THE 


Benefit t)f The Doubt 


BY 

j 

MARY CLARE SPENSER 



DEC 13 1882. 





NEW YORK 

G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS 

27 & 29 WEST 23D STREET 

1883 



Copyright by 

MARY CLARE SPENSER 
1882 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 

I. 

All Abroad 



PAGE 

I 

II. 

“A Very Fair Offer” 

• 


II 

III. 

Breta’s Ghosts 

• 


30 

IV. 

There are People and People . 

• 


52 

V. 

“Do Hurry On” 

• 


69 

VI. 

In the Forest-Gloaming 



86 

VII. 

“ Something is going to come out of all 

this 

»» 

100 

VIII. 

Elmwood 



115 

IX. 

My Queen, or Not My Queen . 



138 

X. 

A Strategic Arrangement . 



158 

XL 

A Great Admiration for Soldiers . 



177 

XII. 

“Did I Not Tell You He is Deep?” 

• 


189 

XIII. 

^STHETICISM 



209 

XIV. 

The Black Art 

• 


227 

XV. 

‘ ‘ Operas will be Lovely ”, 



243 

XVI. 

Three Kisses 



253 

XVII. 

“So!” 



268 

XVIII. 

Under One Roof . . i . . 



281 

XIX. 

“All Within Ourselves” . 



290 

XX. 

The Two-by-Two Arrangement 



303 

XXI. 

The Day of the Matinee . 



313 

XXII. 

A Bold Stroke 



334 

XXIII. 

“The Half is Greater than the Whole” 


354 

XXIV. 

Eight Made Four .... 

. 


364 


iii 























The Benefit of the Doubt 


I 


ALL ABROAD. 


MONO the many friends, relatives, ac- 



l \ quaintances, or lovers who met one early 
evening in the commodious central station of 
Milan (where order reigns so supreme that, in 
the bustle of in-coming and out-going trains, 
to and from all points, none are crowded or 
jostled) two persons were about to pass each 
other, each bound on his own way, with but a 
casual : ‘‘ Buona sera,'' when the elder of the 
two, a man tall and angular, with piercing black 
eyes full of fire and ardor, with long black hair 
gray sprinkled, who might have been Paganini 
himself, but who was not, came suddenly to a 
halt, exclaiming : 

Ola/ signore/’ 


2 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

As the young man thus hailed turned with 
a graceful movement and, advancing a step 
toward the other, stood in a superb attitude de- 
noting polite attention, the one who had hailed 
him said, still in Italian : 

'‘Your pardon. Signor Dunraven. But you 
have been away from Milan for some weeks, in 
— in London, I think.” 

" Si, signor professore, as you say, in Lon- 
don,” replied Dunraven, meeting the full blaze 
of the professor’s eyes but for a moment only ; 
his own finely formed, but rather uncertain blue 
eyes — that never seemed to meet any other 
eyes fairly — drifting carelessly off into space. 

“ And I, I am just from Paris,” resumed the 
professor, who, with the first of his keen 
glances, had fully taken the whole of the six 
feet and three inches of the other in. “ I went 
to Paris with your uncle, il Signor Whyte, but 
— ebbene ! I returned without him.” 

Nothing lighter could well be conceived than 
the easy grace with which young Dunraven 
changed his attitude to one that not only 
showed to still better advantage his tall, ath- 
letic, and finely-proportioned form, and his 
somewhat picturesque attire, but also served 


All Abroad. 


3 


as a sort of challenge embodying a question, as 
though he asked : 

'' Is that all ? What more can it be you wish 
of me ? ” 

“ It is of your uncle, the Signor Whyte, I 
would speak,’’ said the professor, replying as to 
a spoken interrogation. “ Have you heard from 
him lately ? ” he added in a deep voice, and 
with a significant look full of ominous portent, 
that, instead of arousing anxiety, fell on the 
polished surface before him as harmlessly as a 
bomb-shell on the exterior of an ironclad. 

“ Let me think,” replied Dunraven, care- 
lessly, but still carefully retaining his pose of 
studied attention. No, Signor Trapassi, I 
have not heard from my uncle for full three 
weeks.” 

“ Nor from madamigella, your cousin ? ” 

'' Not one word.” And Dunraven, with con- 
summate skill, changed his attitude to one the 
very apotheosis of tender regret. Miss Gar- 
net very seldom favors me with a line. But you 
mistake. Signor Trapassi, Miss Breta Garnet is 
not my cousin ; Signor Whyte, her own uncle, 
is my uncle by marriage only. His wife was my 
mother’s sister,” 


4 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


Let us go from here, and on into the city,'' 
said Trapassi. “It would be better that what 
I have to say should not be overheard. You 
walk, do you not. Signor Dunraven ? For my- 
self I always walk. Per Bacco ! I get enough 
of sitting in the cars." 

“ Si, signore. By all means let us walk. I 
have no affection for the societa degli omnibus, 
or for the musty fiacres S returned Dunraven, 
laughing lightly. 

As they passed through the porta Principe 
Umberto, from the strada belting the city out- 
side its walls, Trapassi, casting one of his light- 
ning glances on the impassively handsome 
blonde face of his companion, said in a startling 
tone : 

“ I parted from the Signor Whyte in the Rue 
de Clichy ! Ahime ! The debtor’s prison, you 
know." 

“ The debtor’s prison, I know," repeated Dun- 
raven, turning gracefully and halting a moment 
to contemplate the professor. “Yes, I know 
the Clichy of Paris, but, pardon me, maestro, I 
know nothing of your meaning." 

“ It is, that he himself, the Signor Whyte, is 
there, incarcerated for quite a large sum." 


All Abroad. 


5 


Fairly surprised for an instant out of an atti- 
tude he had assumed — as they proceeded on 
their way, — indicative of respectful attention to 
the words of one older and wiser than himself, 
although by no means his equal in point of 
wealth, Dunraven could only repeat : 

“ Quite a large sum ! ” 

“ We went together to Paris, as I said,’' 
continued Trapassi, ‘‘ to see what could be done 
about your uncle's, the Signor Whyte s, loss of 
property, and — " 

The loss^of his property ! " again caught up 
Dunraven. 

'' Corpo di Bacco ! Of every danaro he is 
worth ! And no sooner had he set foot in Paris 
than he was arrested and clapped into that vile 
prison. All through the failure of the concern 
in which all his money had been invested." 

‘'You take my breath away! You shock 
me beyond measure, signor professore ! " re- 
turned Dunraven (though from the airiness of 
his tone he might have said : “You delight me 
beyond measure! "). “ Was it thatmew enter- 

prise, the great banking bubble of Marchmont 
& Guion, in which my uncle was so unfortu- 
nate as to invest ? " 


6 


The Benefit of the Doubt 


In which the Signor Gulielmo Waldo in- 
vested his property for him,” said Trapassi sig- 
nificantly. 

Yes, Uncle William has for years managed 
— or mismanaged Mr. Whyte’s affairs, — who 
hates business, and cares only for his music and 
— my cousin Breta.” 

Hundreds besides the Signor Whyte have 
been ruined by that Marchmont & Guion fail- 
ure,” asserted the professor. ‘‘ The Signor 
Gulielmo Waldo himself — ” 

“ Ha ! has my Uncle William also gone up ? ” 
asked Dunraven, very much as though he was 
speaking of a balloon ascension. 

“ He also has lost every farthing, and has 
suddenly disappeared, it being confidently re- 
ported that he has gone to the United States to 
seek his fortune on some one of the south- 
western ranches.” 

Oh, no fear for Uncle William ! He will 
speedily retrieve himself in some way. He al- 
ways does. He is used to it. But something 
must be done for Uncle Raymond Whyte with- 
out loss of time.” 

“ He must be extricated from that wretched 
prison at once,” broke in the professor. 


All Abroad. 


7 


'' As you say, signore. It must necessarily 
be very unpleasant for him.” 

“Unpleasant? Per dio santo ! it is in- 
tolerable, not to be borne ! ” denounced the 
professor, hotly, with energetic gesture and 
flashing eyes. “Just think of the Signorina 
Breta! How can she — ” 

“ Ah ! tell me when I do not think of her. 
She is always to be thought of. Faith ! I have 
thought of nothing else all my life. Breta Gar- 
net is the embodiment of my creed, — of all I 
believe in or worship.” 

“You are fortunate in possessing a creed in 
these days of rank unbelief, when to doubt is so 
much the rage.” This the professor said in a 
tone so dry that bleached chips could not be 
dryer, adding : “ Your worship, signore, is, I be- 
lieve — ” 

“ The beautiful, always the beautiful,” inter- 
rupted Dunraven airily, unmindful of the point- 
ed edge to his companion’s words. “ I live for 
the day,” continued he, walking on in an atti- 
tude indicative of rapt and subdued enthusi- 
asm ; “ for the day when the inharmonies of 
our dual existence shall be reconciled and be- 
come fused into a unity that will cause all man- 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


kind to become as one vibrating soul — vibrating 
to the beautiful, the all-perfect. But I fear we 
shall not realize this Utopia in my time.’’ 

I fear not,” returned the professor, with a 
smile full of malicious humor, and a stronger 
flavor of the bleached chips in his tone. 

The professor seemed to take the greatest in- 
terest in studying the bright, handsome fellow 
by his side ; in noting the light-hearted pleas- 
ure he took in himself and his attitudes ; in his 
'‘creed” ; his ready knowledge of languages ; 
and in his faultless pronunciation, — occasionally 
mixing the soft, poetic, consonant-eliding Vene- 
tian with his purest Tuscan. 

" Your uncle, the Signor Whyte, has sppken 
to me of a fine place near Nuova York owned 
by the Damigella Breta. I suppose she might 
now like to sell it,” suggested the professor. 

" It is a magnificent place, or was, and is 
erected on a magnificent site. It is the re- 
mains, the last of a very large property which 
should have been hers, the Signorina Breta’s, 
but which that infernal Baron Erlau made way 
with.’' 

"Yes, I have heard, but what of the grand 
place ? ” urged the professor. 


All Abroad. 


9 


It is already, and has been for several 
years, up for sale,” returned Dunraven, but, 
unfortunately, the house is full of ghosts, and 
no one cares to purchase.” 

'‘Full of — benissimo ! Full of — of what?” 

demanded the professor. 

“ Of ghosts,” replied Dunraven, as lightly as 
though the commonest thing in the world was 
a house full of ghosts. 

In what shape do these — ghosts manifest 
themselves ?” asked the professor, with an in- 
credulous smile born of ignorance. 

“ In the shape of noises.” 

“Rats, loose casements, north winds whist- 
ling down chimneys,” suggested the professor. 

“ Very possibly,” acquiesced Dunraven, wuth 
light indifference. 

“ But to return to your uncle, I myself have 
a plan by which I feel sure the Signor Whyte 
can be liberated, and at once.” 

“ You ! ” exclaimed Dunraven. 

“Do not imagine, signore, that I, a poor 
devil of a maestro di musica can command 
thousands of francs with which to help any one. 
But the Signor Whyte has many friends who 
will — ” 


^ lo The Benefit of the Doubt. 

Your pardon, Signor Trapassi, but this is a 
duty for me, solaineiite, to perform. I will see 
the Signorina Breta at once, and will then start 
for Paris.” 

'' Your pardon, signore. Permit me to say 
you should start without delay ; in the next 
train for Paris. The signorina will be better 
pleased, — naturahnente. She has not been a 
pupil of mine for the last eight years — since 
she was eight years old, — and a phenomenal 
pupil, with that voice of hers without a parallel, 
for me not to become well acquainted with 
the fact that her uncle, the Signor Whyte, is 
the very cynosure of her eyes.” 

'' As you say, signor professore,” returned 
Dunraven airily. And with a graceful bow and 
an Addiof he turned into another street. 


IL 


A VERY FAIR OFFER. 

B ut instead of retracing his steps to the 
station, Dunraven, by a short cut he knew 
well, soon reached Mr. Whyte’s picturesque casa, 
the door of which he found wide open, and just 
ready to emerge from it were Mr. Whyte’s 
butler and cook, each bearing immense bundles ; 
the butler having also a large basket on his 
arm, through the wicker-work of which Dun- 
raven saw the gleam of silver. 

Taking all in at half a glance, he sprang 
lightly into the passage-way, and so suddenly 
that he gave to the astonished butler so decided 
an impetus backward, that he fell against the 
corpulent cook, she exclaiming in the vile accent 
of the Milanese people : Oh, per dio santo ! ” 

Following up his advantage before they had 
time to recover themselves, Dunraven backed 
them through the door of a waiting-room at the 


II 


1 2 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

left, and pulling the door shut, he turned the 
key upon them. 

This effected, he passed out into the street, 
and seeing a patrol — a guardia notturno — pass- 
ing the corner beyond, he hailed him, and soon 
had the pair under arrest ; the cook vehement- 
ly protesting that she should never have thought 
of it but for that bugiardo the diavolo, while 
the butler said nothing. 

Volete venir mecof demanded the guar- 
dia notturno politely. Whereupon, leaving their 
bundles, the two went with him meekly to the 
lock-up. 

Turning from the crestfallen culprits with the 
careless ease that characterized all his move- 
ments, Dunraven, as the front door closed on 
them, ascended the stairway, his feet noiseless 
on the deep pile of the Moquette carpet, and 
seeking the drawing-room, was arrested at the 
threshold of its open door by the glimpse of a 
picture that impressed itself on his vision and 
haunted him for years after. 

It was not the still life of the elegantly ap- 
pointed room, with its rare and costly art- 
treasures so daintily arranged that nothing 
seemed out of place or too much, that so 
affected him. 


A Very Fair Offer. 


13 


Nor was it the pose of Madama la Contessa, 
with her fine aristocratic face, — who, seated at 
the centre-table with the rays of a large astral 
lamp blazing full upon her, and so absorbed in 
a letter she was reading, she did not hear his 
step, — that took away his breath. 

Of an ancient and impoverished family, Ma- 
dama the Contessa Romano, as he well knew, 
for the love she bore Breta’s mother and the 
pity she felt for the little five-year-old Breta 
herself, when that mother died, had taken the 
full charge of the little orphan, receiving from 
Mr. Whyte for her invaluable services a hand- 
some and most respectfully offered yearly sti- 
pend. Still, noble and estimable as she was, 
her attitudes, ever conventionally polished, 
never startled one into excessive admiration. 

It was at the far end of the room Dunraven’s 
eyes rested in such rapt admiration ; where, 
framed in by one of the trellised windows, in 
all the charm of her young beauty, — a beauty it 
was becoming quite the fashion in Milan to ad- 
mit had not its equal, — Breta herself stood ; the 
yellow, mellow moonlight, streaming down full 
upon her, and, glinting through the soft waves 
of her pretty brown hair, formed a golden halo 


14 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

around her lovely head, making her appear, in 
the fleecy clouds of her white dress, almost like 
one . transfigured. 

She was gazing, with large solemn eyes, out 
upon the moonlighted garden. Dunraven had 
never before seen her look so thoughtful and 
sad, — nor so charming. 

“ How she manages it I cannot see,’’ was his 
mental comment. Without effort, without 
study, she falls into attitudes that would take 
the most practised of us months to attain. And 
she, the enshrinement of all beauty, — she 
laughs at it all, and yet, in spite of herself, ex- 
presses in her every look and motion, a 
preciousness, — the very ideal of our Renais- 
sance.” - 

How many seconds longer the young disci- 
ple of the aesthetic cult would silently have de- 
voured with his eyes the lovely Ideal,” is not 
known, for Madama la Contessa, looking up from 
her letter, rising and welcoming him, broke the 
charm. 

Breta came forward from out the moonlight, 
and meeting him halfway in the room, with the 
calm serenity of manner so habitual to her, 
greeted him with the cordiality of a friend of 


A Very Fair Offer, i5 

long standing ; he carrying the hand she offered 
him to his lips, according to the foreign custom 
he had learned in his long sojourn abroad. 

Have you heard the sad news of Uncle 
Ray ? she asked, with unwonted mournfulness 
of cadence. “ I have just received a letter from 
him. Madama was reading it when you came/' 
she added. 

“ Not an hour ago,” returned Dunraven, 
telling himself that Breta s sadness made her 
even more beautiful than ever. I met in the 
station signor the professore, who had just re- 
turned from Paris,” added he, handing a chair 
to Breta, near that of Madama the Contessa. 
And taking a chair himself beside Breta, and 
assuming a peculiarly graceful position, indica- 
tive of his excessive admiration for her, he re- 
counted his interview with the professor, and 
his adventure with cook and butler. 

“ 111 news travels fast,” said the contessa. 
“ They thought the padrone could not look 
after his property and that they would. But we 
must not be remiss in his absence. I will go and 
see to the other servants, and that all is safe.” 

“ Rather let me go, madama,” urged Breta, 
rising from her chair as the contessa arose. 


1 6 The Benefit ofi the Doubt, 

Not so, my dear,'' objected the contessa, 
waving Breta. back. “ Stay with your cousin 
Noel, whom you have not seen for several 
weeks." 

‘‘ Madama la Contessa Romano is a lady I 
most profoundly esteem," said Dunraven to 
Breta, still speaking in Italian. He had risen 
with the ladies and now reseated himself in the 
most striking attitude of his repertory, after 
Breta had resumed her chair. 

‘‘Did Signor Trapassi say when Uncle Ray 
would be liberated from that dreadful prison ? " 
asked Breta wistfully, unmindful of Dunraven's 
flippant speech. 

“ Unfortunately, Breta mia, not until he or 
some one pays the sum — " 

“ Is it a very large sum, Noel 1 " interrupted 
Breta. 

“ Several thousand piastres." 

“ How many thousand ? " 

“ Twenty thousand." 

“ Twenty thousand piastres would not be so 
very much if Uncle Ray had not lost all his prop- 
erty. But how can he pay it now ? " asked 
Breta anxiously. “Twenty thousand dollars is 
a terrible sum when, for the first time, one feels 


A Very Fair Offer, 


17 


the lack of it. Nothing- in the house must be 
sold, Uncle Ray said in his letter, on account of 
creditors.'’ 

Have no anxiety, carissima. It can all be 
arranged.” 

‘'Can it? How? Who is to arrange it?” 
persisted Breta. 

“ Will you give me the privilege, car a 
Breta?” 

“ Will I — give you — I do not understand,” 
faltered Breta. And then observing a peculiar 
gleam in Dunraven’s blue eyes, and an un- 
wonted flush on his blonde face, she stopped 
short in her speech for a moment. “ Will 1 
give you the privilege? Is not Uncle Ray 
your uncle ? Can you liberate him ? ” 

“ My uncle by marriage only, you know, 
Breta. But, carissima, I did not come to dis- 
cuss that, but to ask you if you would make me 
the happiest man the world contains by — ” 
The expression gathering in her dark eyes, 
that were fixed full upon him, confused and for 
a moment checked him. 

Rising to his feet he approached her. 

“ Breta, amato bene, will you trust yourself 
to my keeping ? ” he exclaimed, bending with 


1 8 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

infinite grace on one knee before her, and gaz- 
ing with impassioned eyes into her young face. 
‘‘ You are to me the all-perfect, the all-beauti- 
ful, the realization of my dream — He came 
to a sudden stop again as Breta, rising from her 
chair, took a few steps backward, and then, 
turning from him, walked the length of the 
room and stood again in the broad moonlight ; 
making of herself, unconsciously, a charming 
picture once more — framed by the trellised, 
moonlighted window. 

Dunraven, with a movement as though he 
would go over to her, restrained himself, and 
stood silent and watchful ; his eyes devouring 
the soft, child-like bloom of her cheek and lips, 
the graceful waves of her hair — so dark in the 
shade, so golden in the light,-^that the Septem- 
ber breeze was gently stirring. He noted the 
unusual lustre of her dark eyes, that seemed in- 
tensified by some feeling he was not permitted 
to share. 

Presently she turned, walked deliberately 
toward him again, and standing erect in front 
of him said, in a tone with no bitterness in it, 
simply calm, with a charming dignity that 
aroused in him a still greater admiration for her : 


A Very Fair Offer. 


19 


'' What you have just said to me would, I 
suppose, be considered a very fair offer. So 
much for so much. A condition. If I will ac- 
cede to your proposition you will pay the 
twenty thousand dollars to liberate — not your 
— but — my uncle.” 

Her logical way of putting it caused his pro- 
posal to seem to him more as though he had 
made her a declaration of war than a declara- 
tion of love ; and he was taken completely 
aback. 

“Breta! ” he ejaculated pleadingly, “do not, 
pray do not mistake me ! I make no condi- 
tions. How can I ? Consider our uncle re- 
leased the moment I can get to — ” 

“Just how*much money have you?” asked 
she pitilessly. “ I never before thought of you 
as possessing money ; never before gave money 
a thought in any way. You have a great deal, 
have you not?”^ 

Dunraven, taken still more aback by the sar- 
casm conveyed in her words than by her tone so 
devoid of sarcasm, or her manner so self-con- 
tained and settled in purpose, was unprepared 
for a reply. 

“ My only guardian being detained in prison, 


20 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

away from me,” continued she, '' I have no one 
to look after my interests, and before deciding 
it is necessary for me to know just how much 
you — ” 

“ Breta, for the love of heaven, desist ! Breta 
— carissima, I — I do not know you! You are in 
an entirely new role 1 Breta satirical, — a role, 
in all the diversity of her charming little ways, 
I have never before seen her assume.” 

‘'Breta bargained for! So much for so 
much ! ” said she, a tinge of scorn in the quiet 
of her tone. “ Who ever before has seen her 
in that — role ? ” 

“ Breta, cugina mia, let me adjure you to 
hear me. I repeat, — I make no conditions. I 
simply offer you the devotion of a life. I have 
always adored you — I always shall. All I have 
is yours — all I am.” 

Breta withdrew the hand he attempted to take, 
but so softly, so quietly, — stepping back a few 
paces again, — that she seemed to melt away 
from him like a dream. 

“ Perhaps it is some one of your other suitors 
wh(\is more favored,” continued he, with bitter- 
ness. “ Do not look surprised ; you thought I did 
not know. But I know every thing that comes 


A Very Fair Offer. 21 

near you. You see, everybody wants to marry 
you — always will. I wanted to marry you when 
you were two years old and I was seven, and 
when you were seven and I twelve, and so on 
straight through until now that you are sixteen 
and I twenty-one. If I have never before told 
you, and if we have always been like brother 
and sister, it is because I never before could 
command the courage to tell you how I worship 
you. Breta, my bellissima, I shall never be 
happy until — until you marry me. Or is it il 
Conte Buonarotti who is the fortunate he ? ” 

Breta, who had retreated from him but a few 
steps, was standing with one hand resting on 
the contessa s chair, while with the other she 
was lightly turning over the leaves of the book 
the contessa had been reading before receiving 
from her her uncle’s letter, — the occasional illus- 
trations receiving from her inscrutable eyes an 
occasional passing glance. She looked up, 
meeting Dunraven’s eyes as he mentioned 
Buonarotti’s name, but vouchsafed no other re- 
ply. 

Approaching nearer to her, Dunraven added : 

Or it may be the Signor Ludovico Goldoni, 
or il Duca di Lanasco. You see I know about 


22 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

them all. Breta, will you marry me ? ” he con- 
cluded abruptly, approaching another step 
nearer to her. 

Noel, you are unlike yourself. I do not 
know you ; you are in an entirely new — role,’’ she 
returned, using his own words with a quiet, deli- 
cate touch of spirit that made her seem intan- 
gible as a white flame, — as though before him, 
and yet miles away from him.” 

“ Breta,” he said with a light laugh, changing 
his mode of attack, “ I always thought — I al- 
ways hoped — you had some little — cousinly re- 
gard — some little sisterly — affection for me. Am 
I not right ? Is it not so ? ” 

‘‘ Not a little, but a great deal sisterly — affec- 
tion for you, Noel, but — ” 

Say no more, Breta mia” and he came so 
close beside her his breath vibrated the loose 
threads of her hair, as he bent his tall form over 
her, gazing down into her face, but not offering 
to touch her, adding : I am going, cara Breta, 
— I am going direct to Paris. Remember, you 
have 7tot refused me. I go with the benefit of 
the doubt to cheer me. Addio” and he made a 
graceful exit, stopping at the door an instant to 
say again : ‘‘ Addio!' 


A Very Fair Offer. 


23 


Breta sank back in the contessa’s chair, as 
white as her dress ; and a few moments after, 
when Bertrando, the footman, announced : “ II 
Signor Trapassi,” she looked up, as she rose to 
welcome the professor, her eyes moist with 
tears. 

The tears had disappeared when she greeted 
him, but the ^naestro showed a sympathetic 
appreciation of her trouble by his paternal tone, 
as he said : 

“ I have come, figlia mia, to bring you good 
news. Your uncle will be liberated at once, and 
through you.” 

“ Through me, signor professore ! ” ex- 
claimed Breta, in profound astonishment. 

“ Through you, figlia mia , — if you so decide. 
I bear with me, for your acceptance, an offer 
from — ” 

An offer — maestro — from — ” repeated Bre- 
ta, with a look of dismay. 

'‘Not an offer of marriage, madamigella. 
Heaven forfend.! ” prayed the professor, chuck- 
ling at her discomfiture, — his piercing eyes and 
quick brain having comprehended the cause of 
it. He had met Dunraven going out of the 
house ; he knew of Buonarotti, of Goldoni, of 


24 


The Benefit of the Do^ibt, 

the Duca di Lanasco — the latter noble gentle- 
man himself had told the maestro of his defeat 
and of his admiration for the charming little 
Ai7iericana, the maestro s pupil. 

‘'Not an offer of marriage, — grazieadioT' 
he repeated, v/ith comic gravity. “ But an offer 
from Signor the Director of La Scala, for you to 
sing as prima donna, upon your own terms, 
now, this coming season ; — the rehearsals to 
commence at once. Also, you are to receive a 
sum, a handsome sum, as soon as you sign this 
contract, and the professor drew from the breast- 
pocket of his coat a folded paper. 

“This is very sudden, maestro ; — am I com- 
petent — to — ” 

“ Competent, madamigella! I am here with 
this^' and the maestro lightly tapped the paper 
in his hand. “ Is not that sufficient answer ? 
Per Bacco ! None since Malibran or Sontag can 
reach you. Signor the Impresario knows what 
he is about, if any one does.'’ 

“ He ought to, certainly,” .returned Breta, 
musingly. 

“ He has heard you, as you know. The great 
Verdi has heard you — and you well know his 
judgment of your voice and method. What 


A Very Fair Offer, 


25 


more would you ? ” asked the professor, with 
great energy, his eyes burning like two coals 
of fire. 

“ Less fear of the life — the publicity of it, and 
the — ” 

“ The diavolo ! Go and talk with Madama 
Verdi, the great Strepponi that was. You 
know her. She will tell you what the life is.” 

'' She is one of the brave ones, while I am a 
horrible coward, maestro T 

‘‘ And I — I taught you to sing. Will that go 
for something or nothing ? ” 

“ And I, if I can sing, owe it all to your 
teaching,” replied Breta, with a charming smile. 

Ta, ta ! figlia mia. Nature has done more 
for you than your old maestro. Nature has 
given you all, except the method it has been 
my good fortune to impart to an incomparable 
intelligence.” 

That last shot, signor professore, calls for 
another. Y ou forgot to add that the method 
you speak of is that of the first maestro in 
Italy,” said Breta in a tone of respectful raillery. 

But should I consent — ” continued she, grow- 
ing thoughtful. 

Which of course you will do,” said the pro- 
fessor, conclusively. 


26 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


“ Should I consent, then as to the terms. 
You say on my own terms. But I — I know 
nothing of terms.” 

How will these figures answer, madarni- 
gella ? I inserted them in pencil myself,” and 
the professor, opening the contract, handed it 
to her, pointing to a certain clause. 

“ Oh, I cannot be worth all that ! ” exclaimed 
Breta, reading as one in a dream. 

Shall I ask the Duca di Lanasco how much 
he considers you worth ? ” maliciously asked 
the professor. 

'‘To the management, I mean, of course,” 
returned Breta, ignoring the jocoseness of the 
professor, whom all Milan declared could have 
been a great buffo actor, had he so chosen. 

'^To the management, certainly. Well, we 
shall see this day six months. Now, will you 
sign ? ” 

" There is so much to take into considera- 
tion.” 

" Let me do the considering while you do 
first the signing and then the singing, madami- 
gella.” 

" And you say I am to have twenty thousand 
piastres now, at once. That will just pay back 


A Very Fair Offer. 


27 


— ” here Breta stopped. “ Yes, signor pro- 
fessore, I will sign.” 

The quick gleam that shot down on her from 
the professor s coal-black eyes, would have re- 
vealed to her, had she encountered it, that her 
unspoken words had been divined, as he handed 
her a pen filled with ink, he had taken from his 
pocket. 

‘'But if I should fail and suffer fiasco?'' 
asked Breta, with the pen poised in the air. 

“ In that space write your name,” said the 
professor, leaning over the young girl, and 
pointing with his long finger to the spot. “ I 
predict for you a great success, mia^' con- 
tinued he, as he laid on the table before her a 
check for the twenty thousand piastres, his 
eagle eyes softening as he looked down from 
his height upon her. 

“ It is very kind of you, signor professore, to 
say so.” 

“ You will have the whole world at your 
feet.” 

“ That is the worst of it,” returned Breta, with 
a pretty knotting up of her white forehead. 
“ If one need sing only for the love of it, — the 
pure love of true art ; and not have to undergo 


28 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


the deafening shrieks and thunders of applause 
— that put one in mind of the ragings of a 
menagerie of wild beasts ; — and worse still, if 
one did not have to undergo the — the whole 
world at one’s feet, and all that. Maestro 7nio 
I shall love — I shall live in the sinmnof — the 
music ; but I — I shall never like the life.” 

“ Ah, my poverina, you will get over all 
that,” replied Trapassi, laughing maliciously. 
“ A gran Diva, as you will be, must take all 
that without question — senza dubbioi' 

The professor was standing, ready to take 
his leave, still laughing and assuring Breta that 
she would get over all that, as Madama the 
Contessa entered. He stopped with Italian 
politeness to hear her enlarge on the condition 
of household affairs. She had found, she said, 
Bertrando the footman, Luigi the coachman, 
and all the rest, except Nisida the Signorina 
Breta’s maid, ignorant of the theft and arrest 
of the butler and cook. Nisida was on her 
way to give the alarm as the Signor Dunraven 
entered. 

The contessa was delighted with Breta’s en- 
gagement to sing, and predicted for her darling 
a great career. ^ 


A Very Fair Offer. 


29 


And now, although we shall have to re- 
trench, of course,” said she, with a great sigh of 
relief, “ we shall not be compelled to give up 
this pretty casa. It is such a lovely dwelling, it 
would be a thousand pities ; — and then the Sig- 
nor Whyte is so much attached to it, and has 
filled it with so many exquisite gems of art! ” . 


III. 


BRETA S GHOSTS. 

A t the tonclusion of Breta’s unprecedently 
successful engagement/’ as the papers had 
it, nothing would induce her to accept another 
engagement at La Scala, or at the opera-houses 
of any other city, — although she had received 
various most flattering inducements. In vain 
all the maestri urged. 

The Signor Trapassi was in the profoundest 
despair. 

“ Upon my life, madamigella,” fumed he, 
you are the first successful cantatrice the 
world has yet seen that ever threw away such 
a prospect! — fame, wealth, every thing, — for 
there is no height you could not reach ; — and 
all because a crowd of fools persecute you with 
their senseless attentions (for I know that is 
the cause) that any other woman in the uni- 
verse, but you, would be proud of.” 


30 


Bretas Ghosts, 


31 


But Breta was inexorable. And when, for 
reasons of her own, she did not fully divulge, 
she not only would not sing any more on any 
stage, but persisted also in quitting Milan and 
Europe, to sail for the shores of her native land 
with her uncle, Mr. Whyte (who invariably in- 
dulged her in her every wish), her old maestro ^ 
in the height of his anguish, bade her farewell 
with broken words and tears in his eyes. 

Three years had passed since Breta left 
Milan ; and one lovely morning — it was in mid- 
June — a burly gentleman, in black of faultless 
cut, sought a certain mansion that had been 
abandoned to decay ; — riding through one of 
the gaps in its evergreen hedge, unmindful of 
its great iron gates, that, half off their hinges, 
were ever open. 

His horse, a superb animal, black as the 
rider’s apparel, picked his way, with loosened 
rein, through the straggling weeds of the car- 
riage drive, once so gravel-smooth ; affording 
his master ample time, on his way, to study 
sunlight effects through grand vistas, where 
down in the depths of abrupt and rocky ravines 
wound a sparkling stream. Or to note in 


32 


The Benefit of the Doubt. 


smoother spots (so ample were the grounds) the 
picturesque confusion of half-tumbled-down 
summer-houses, voiceless fountains, fishless 
basins ; broken-nosed Venuses tilted awry on 
their pedestals ; Cupids shorn of their fat little 
arms ; dethroned Bacchuses toppling aslant as 
though overcome by their own wine ; and on a 
confusion of Naiads, Apollos, Mercuries, Satyrs, 
and Fauns ; — all canting helplessly at odd 
angles, fantastically crowned or draped by way- 
ward creepers, and staring blankly at each 
other, as though vainly asking what ruthless 
vandals had converted into an incongruous 
jumble, a once well-executed design of garden- 
art, telling certain elaborate mythological 
stories. 

Reining up at last in front of the dismantled 
mansion, gorgeous even in its desolation, and 
hitching his horse to a broken column of the 
veranda instead of to any of the ostentatiously 
carved hitching-posts, he walked up the broad 
steps and stood before an opened oriel window, 
peering in as though he rather expected some 
startling something to spring out upon him. 

'' Can you inform me, sir, as to the terms of 
purchase of this property ? ” said he to the per- 
son he saw within. 


Bretas Ghosts. 


33 


Obtaining no response, he shouted at the top 
of his lungs : 

‘‘ Ho ! within there ! I wish to make inquiries 
relative to the purchase of this property.” 

“ Excuse me, sir,” replied a small-sized, mid- 
dle-aged gentleman, showing himself at the 
window. “ Pray don’t exert your lungs so pain- 
fully. I am not in the least deaf. I did not 
know, when you first spoke, but that you might 
be the ghost in person, and I make it a rule 
never to reply to it. But I never know, I get 
things mixed up so.” 

“ Then there is a ghost ? That is what I 
wish to ascertain.” 

“ Go to the front door, sir, and I will let you 
in. The ghost won’t harm you, — at least it 
never has any one yet ; though I never know, 
I get things mixed up so.” 

Seated in the room of the open window, the 
stranger in black looked around him. But dis- 
covering only legitimate objects — elegantly 
carved old-time chairs, cabinets, and tables of 
the same antique model, a claw-footed secre- 
tary of elaborate workmanship, containing books 
and writing implements, some music on a rack, 
and a violin on one of the chairs ; also masterly 


34 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


pictures on the walls, — his glance reverted to 
the little gentleman, who had returned to his 
occupation of grilling, in a dainty, natty way, a 
small beefsteak over a few coals in the capa- 
cious, old-fashioned grate. 

“Then there is 2^ ghost?” again demanded 
the black guest, his eyes starting on another 
voyage around the room, and bringing up in a 
half-opened, curiously-carved wardrobe, in which 
were hanging vestments of small size and quaint 
pattern, the property evidently of his little host. 

“ Before I answer your query, sir, I should 
like to be certain that you are not the ghost 
come at last to pounce upon me with a business 
pretext. It is up to any dodge. It has re- 
peatedly threatened to appear. I have long 
been expecting it. But I never know, I get 
things mixed up so.” 

As the little gentleman said this, in a tone 
half querulous, half jocose, his visitor demanded 
with a most unghostly laugh : “ Do I look like 
an IT? Not a pennyweight less than two 
hundred pounds, I assure you, Mr. ” 

“ Whyte,” returned the other mildly, almost 
as though his having a name at all required an 
apology. 


Bretas Ghosts. 


35 


''lam of the legal profession, Mr. Whyte. 
My client is a speculator in ghosts ; so now for 
your ghost, if you please,'’ and the legal gentle- 
man concluded with another expansive laugh, as 
though the ghost were the best joke of the sea- 
son. 

Little Mr. Whyte nodded his head medita- 
tively, and in response to his visitor’s burly 
laughter, twitched his mouth around into a 
twisted smile, expressive of mild endurance 
rather than of mirth, that showed smiles to be 
but stray waifs on his face. 

His legal guest, with another searching glance, 
wished to know at what figure he held the 
property, including the ghost. 

Mr. Whyte met the professional eyes fasten- 
ed on his with a look as clear and steadfast as 
that of an unhackneyed boy (he had altogether 
a freshness and innocence about him suggestive 
of a boy who had forgotten to grow old), and 
seating himself at the table, upon which he had 
placed plates and condiments, his grilled steak, 
coffee-cups, and rolls, he invited his guest, by a 
quick wave of his little hand, to partake of his 
cheer, which the guest, by a heavy wave of his 
ponderous hand, declined. ^ 


36 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

The price of this property/’ said he, is 
fifty thousand dollars, less, by more than half, 
than it would be were it not for the ghost, you 
see, sir. If this poor place were as I knew it 
years ago, when it had no ghost, it could not 
be bought for any money. I will show you 
around as soon as you like. That ’s why I am 
here. I have no responsibility of ownership ; 
the ghost is sufficient for me. I sometimes 
think more than sufficient, — but I never know, 
I get things mixed up so.” And little Mr. 
Whyte applied himself to his coffee and rolls in 
a quaint, self-communing way, as though work- 
ing out the Infinite Calculus. 

‘‘ Might I ask who is the owner ? ” queried 
his guest. 

Certainly, sir, it is no secret. Though I 
sometimes think it quite possible that the owner 
does not own it at all, but that the ghost does. 
But I never know, I — ” 

I will make a note of the owner’s name,” 
suggested the gentleman in black, taking out his 
tablets, and nodding a dignified acceptance of 
the error of his first demand in asking if he 
might ask, — which his little host had so inno- 
cently corrected. 


Bretas Ghosts. 


37 


With an air of profoundest reverence, as a 
devotee might speak of the Virgin Mother, the 
little gentleman took from his lips the coffee- 
cup, and fitting it softly and caressingly into its 
saucer, — as though it were a chalice containing 
the long-sought typical grail, — he replied : 

The legal and sole possessor of this property 
is a young and beautiful lady, — beautiful past 
conception, and good as she is beautiful, — 
whose name is Miss Breta — 

“ The legal and sole possessor of this property 
is a young and beautiful lady, — beautiful past 
conception, and good as she is beautiful, — whose 
name is Miss Breta — ” sang an unseen person 
in a rich, full tenor, adapting little Mr. Whyte s 
words to a grand air from Himmel’s Ossian,” 
and abruptly ending on an augmented second, 
as though the words were insufficient with which 
to finish the sequence. 

Who ’s that? ’’ demanded the guest in black. 
Are you a ventriloquist, Mr. Whyte ? '' 

Mr. Whyte not responding, he repeated his 
question, looking around the room with startled 
dignity. 

“ Excuse me, sir, I am no ventriloquist. I 
was waiting to hear if it would not resume the 


38 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


theme and end honestly on the tonic. It has 
quite the habit of leaving off on the diminished 
fifth perhaps, or on the minor seventh, or, 
worse, on the major seventh, leaving you in an 
uncomfortable state of suspense — like being 
partly hung and then cut down. If it had half 
a conscience it would make a point of conclud- 
ing satisfactorily on the tonic.” 

The stranger gravely ejaculated : Ah, in- 

deed ! ” but notwithstanding his portly dignity, 
he looked, speaking in musical parlance, de- 
cidedly unstrung, — as though a tonic might be 
satisfactory to him also. 

But he made a great show of being uncon- 
cerned, and asked : 

Does this ghost of yours do any thing be- 
sides sing, Mr. Whyte ? ” 

‘‘ Every thing else ! I sometimes think the 
house will come down about my ears, when it 
or THEY (for the ghost is legion) get so boister- 
ous as to make me almost fancy myself a ghost 
along with them. But then I never know, I 
get things mixed up so.” 

‘‘ Mixed up, I should think so ! One day of 
it would do for me. Why, it was right in the 
room here, over there. But it is just what my 
client is after.” 


Breta s Ghosts. 


39 


'' We have had many persons looking at this 
place, on account of its magnificent site, — but 
all object, like yourself, to the ghost. And now, 
to have an applicant turn up who wants a ghost ! 
— I should say your client must be somewhat 
eccentric. But then I never know, I — ” 

'‘In respect to desiring ghosts for society, 
yes, but otherwise he is in no sort eccentric,” 
interrupted the other. 

“ We all have our peculiarities,” replied little 
Mr. Whyte, with great simplicity. “ I some- 
times think I have mine. But then I — ” 

“ The young gentleman for whom I am 
transacting this business,” said the stranger, “ is 
singularly endowed by nature, and can afford to 
have his peculiarities. He has rare gifts which 
have been highly cultured, — is of an exceeding- 
ly handsome exterior, — of an uncommonly gen- 
erous disposition ; and is the possessor of great 
wealth. His name is Joslyn de — ” 

The last name of the fortunate he, to whom 
had been vouchsafed so many enviable gifts, 
was drowned in the sudden crash of brass and 
the shriek of catgut, followed by a magnifi- 
cent soprano solo, in a bell-like voice and true 
operatic style ; the words beginning with, 


40 ' The Benefit of the Donbt, 

“ The young gentleman/’ and ending with, 
‘'Joslyn de — ” being substituted for those of 
the original score. 

It did end on the tonic ! ” rapturously ex- 
claimed little Mr. Whyte, catching up his violin 
and rendering portions of the melody over 
again, with a method finished and masterly. 

A round of applause, the clapping of unseen 
hands, the shouts of “ Bravo! ” “ Encore I ” of 
unseen voices, following the little gentleman’s 
violin-playing, he took quite as a matter of 
course. His visitor tried also to look uncon- 
cerned, as though he had been in the habit of 
being serenaded and concerted by shadows 
every month in the year. 

“ I must say, Mr. Whyte,” he remarked, 
“ not to enlarge upon your own playing, which 
is faultless ; just, and broad in style, equal to that 
of any violinist I ever heard, and I ’ve heard 
them all — all the public ones I mean, — I must 
say, that if I had been conveyed here blind- 
folded in the midst of that operatic blast, I 
should have sworn I had been taken to Rossini’s 
‘ Barber.’ I never heard a finer rendering of 
the ‘ tma voce poco fai or to more curious words. 
I ’ve heard Sontag’s Rosina, and Malibran’s 


Bret as Ghosts, 


41 


Rosina ; I Ve heard Jenny Lind sing the cava- 
tina inimitably ; have made prima donnas a 
study from a boy ; — and it seems as though 
years had been wiped out, and that I had just 
listened again to Malibran. I heard her in Mi- 
lan when I was fifteen. But let us proceed to 
business. We will go out, if you please, under 
the trees, — if the ghost does not go there. I 
have heard enough and can report favorably. 
I have heard quite sufficient.” 

The ghost was of another opinion, for as 
little Mr. Whyte arose from his seat saying : 
“ It never leaves the house, we will go — ” he 
was interrupted by a perfect diapason of deaf- 
ening discord ; as though a whole army of the 
tallest of ancient Titans, and the shortest of 
modern “short-boys,” had clubbed together for 
a concert called callithumpian. 

The legal gentleman who came to seek a 
ghost, having gotten more ghost than he ex- 
pected, rushed from the house with prodigious 
strides, little Mr. Whyte trotting unconcernedly 
after him. 

“There, I am out of that infernal din! I al- 
ways detested noise. I get as far from the big 
drums at the opera as I can. I never go to 


42 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

hear Wagner, as I cannot stand the fusilade of 
heavy cannon and doubling of blatant brass in- 
struments (which doubling always produces 
discordant fifths) in Wagners late operas. I 
always go out of town on .the Fourth of July, 
and, — but if Joslyn de Grey likes the ghostly 
racket, he is welcome to it.'’ 

“We should all follow the bent of our in- 
clinations if we can ; many of us cannot,” said 
Mr. Whyte. 

“ It is entirely on scientific grounds that Mr. 
de Grey wishes a house of ghosts. Young as 
he is, only twenty-six, he is a great scientist, 
devoted to the advance of natural science. He 
is aiming to discover — I really cannot state 
exactly what, but he is experimenting with 
electrical batteries and chemical compounds.” 

“ Oh ! ” meekly responded Mr. Whyte. 
“ And now that you and I and the ghost have 
hobnobbed together in so friendly a way,” 
continued he, “ I will make bold to ask you by 
what name I shall address you. When I make 
the acquaintance of a new ghost — I mean indi- 
vidual, — I like to have a handle by which memo- 
ry can take hold of when thinking of him.” 

, “ With all pleasure imaginable. My name is 


Bretds Ghosts, 


43 


Benjamin Black, at your service ; here is my 
card.” 

“ Bless me!” exclaimed little Mr. Whyte in 
his fresh, roseate way ; the boy that had forgot- 
ten to grow old, sticking out prominently. 

‘'What a curious collision of colors! Black, 
white, red, and grey, mingfe, mingle, and so 
on.” And he put Mr. Black’s card carefully in 
his wallet. 

“ Where do you get your red, Mr. Whyte? ” 
asked Mr. Black, laughing ponderously. 

“ My niece’s name is Garnet, Breta Garnet,” 
replied Mr. Whyte, with another twisted smile. 
“ Now if I were a believer in such things, and I 
am not,” added he, “ I should say it meant 
something. But I never know, I get — ” 

“You do well not to believe in any thing, 
Mr. Whyte.” 

“ Any thing supernatural, you mean.” 

“ Supernatural, of course,” assented Mr. 
Black. 

“ Except ghosts, of course,” interposed Mr. 
Whyte. 

“ Well, yes, except ghosts,” laughingly as- 
sented Mr. Black, with a new and saving faith 
in the late demonstrations. “ But what a charm- 


44 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

ing spot ! ” he exclaimed, recovering from his 
laugh and looking about him over the land- 
scape. 

Mr. Whyte had led the Avay to a grove of 
elms on an ascent ; from Avhich point, over an 
intervening gorge, down whose bank a beauti- 
ful spring-fed cascade foamed and sparkled, 
could be seen the pretty village of Lea below, 
and a vast extent of valley beyond, with moun- 
tains in the distance. 

Why, such a nook as this, with these giant 
elms overhead and that view in front, is worth 
its weight in gold,” continued Mr. Black, seating 
himself on the least shattered of the carved 
oaken benches near the natural fountain, which 
was the generous source of the cascade. 

''You may well say that, Mr. Black. And 
this knoll, and these elms, and this fountain, and 
these carved oaken seats, have seen grand com- 
pany, I can tell you. Gentlemen of foreign 
legations. Presidents of the United States, 
noblemen with titles nearly as long as the 
Declaration of Independence, — American, Ital- 
ian, French, Austrian, English ; all were wel- 
come here ; for Mr. Howard Garnet kept open 
house in those days.” 


Bretas Ghosts. 


45 


Was Mr. Howard Garnet Miss Breta s * 
father ? ” 

'' Her grandfather/’ replied little Mr. Whyte. 

And how did the place come to be left to 
such utter desolation ? ” 

“ That is the story of the house. Every 
house has its story, more or less ; and that 
house (and little Mr. Whyte jerked his small 
thumb over toward the devastated mansion) has 
its story more, I should judge. But I never 
know, I — ” 

Can the story be told ? ” asked Mr. Black, 
looking over toward the house, just discernible 
through the trees, as though possibly the le- 
gion ” might be peering at him from its win- 
dows. 

‘‘ It is involved in mystery, the solution of it 
being buried with Mr. Howard Garnet, on 
whom no censure was ever attached, the Gar- 
nets having all been true gentle-folk as a family. 
But, always generous and unsuspicious, he per- 
mitted a dark, wily Austrian, of the name of 
Erlau, a baron, to gain so unaccountable ah as- 
cendancy over him, that Baron Erlau not only 
lived here with him, but he managed Mr. Gar- 
net’s affairs. To this Erlau the whole evil was 


46 The Benefit of the Doubt 

attributed, an ugly rumor being afloat that he 
had occasioned Mr. Garnet’s death. But there 
was no proof — nothing that could be taken hold 
of legally. The rest can be all told in three 
words, and as I see you take an interest in it I 
will tell it to you. After Mr. Howard Garnet’s 
strange death the house was abandoned— the 
ghosts having taken possession, you see. His 
widow (Breta’s grandmother) went abroad with 
her only son (Breta’s father), and there she 
died. This son, on coming of age, married my 
sister, and then, for the first time, discovered 
that the Baron of Erlau had made way with 
the entire property (such things are, you know), 
and nothing could be done about it, for the 
baron himself suddenly died — shot himself. 
Nothing was left of the vast Garnet property 
but this place, which, being deeded to his son’s 
heirs by Mr. Howard Garnet (Breta proving the 
sole heir), could not be touched by the rapacious 
baron. Breta’s father, when he found himself 
worth nothing, was so affected on account of his 
voung wife, that he took sick and died. I then 
brought my sister (Breta’s mother) to the United 
States for a change, where Breta was born, and 
where I lost my own dear little wife. Breta was 


Bretas Ghosts. 


47 


then two years old, and, heart-broken, I took 
her and her mother back to Milan, where, when 
Breta was five years old, her mother (my sister) 
died. All death, you see, so far ; but it is the 
way with some families. I owned a handsome 
property then, left me by my father, and I 
spared nothing in the education of Breta — I had 
no children of my own. Three and a half years 
ago my brother-in-law (my wife’s youngest 
brother), acting as my agent (I never had any 
turn for business), made an unfortunate invest- 
ment, and 1 lost every cent.” 

“Stay!” exclaimed Mr. Black. “Yes, to 
be sure ! It was the Signorina Breta Garnet, — 
the very name ! I was in Milan about three 
and a half years ago, on •some important busi- 
ness for a client of mine. A cantatrice, a per- 
fect marvel of a cantatrice, a debutante, about 
whom all Milan was going wild, was singing 
at the time. I heard her every opera night 
during my stay in the city. She was very 
young — sixteen I think they said, and was a 
marvel of beauty as well. Was it — ,was she? 
— ” And here Mr. Black stopped, looking in- 
tently at Mr. Whyte. 

“ My niece,” responded Mr. Whyte, with 


48 


The Benefit of the Doubt. 


much simplicity. “ She is now teaching in Miss 
Rutherford’s Seminary, on that hill just above 
the village.” And he indicated the spot by a 
sweep of his small hand. 

“ But I do not understand ; she, a great 
prima donna, teaching in a seminary ! why, 
she was creating a perfect furor — ” 

“ Pardon me,” mildly interrupted little Mr. 
Whyte, “ but that was the difficulty. She could 
not stand it, you see, sir.”, 

“ She could not — stand — could not stand 
what ? ” 

“ The fuss they made, you know.” 

“ I thought prima donnas liked a fuss made 
over them ; and the more the fuss the better 
pleased they always were,” and Mr. Black 
laughed ponderously at his own conceit. 

One of his twisted smiles briefly illumined 
Mr. Whyte’s fresh, roseate face. 

“ It may be as you say, sir,” observed he, 
“ but my niece never liked it ; and, when her 
engagement was up, she could not be prevailed 
upon to make any more engagements, and — we 
came here.” 

“ And does she like it here ? ” 

“ Vastly.” 


Bretds Ghosts, 


49 


Strange, very strange to be willing to bury 
such marvellous gifts as hers — and she so young 
— in a little country place like this.” 

Why, you see, Mr. Black, she had no peace 
of her life. She was serenaded so constantly 
she could get no sleep. She had the greatest 
profusion of costly presents sent her that she 
would not accept and could not return, as they 
were anonymous. Everybody was making her 
offers of marriage, and fighting duels for her, 
and she was glad enough to get away and to 
bury herself, as you call it, in the seclusion 
of—” 

Yes, yes, I see,” said Mr. Black, thoughtT 
fully, not waiting for his host to add his last 
words. Miss Garnet, with her exquisite voice 
and method, and her remarkable dramatic talent, 
and her wonderful beauty, possesses also a cer- 
tain magnetic charm that is irresistible. I saw 
that when I heard her. She is like no one else ; 
yes, yes, I see, I can well understand.” 

“ For myself,” continued Mr. Whyte, ‘‘ I play 
on the organ down there in that pretty Gothic 
church. You can just see it from here. I could 
get a very much larger salary in New York, 
and could run down there on the cars of course 


5o The Benefit of the Donbt, 

every Sunday, but Breta is taking much pleas- 
ure in singing in the choir — they cannot applaud 
in a church, you know, — and I do not like to 
leave her, her pleasure pleases me.” 

‘‘ Naturally,” returned Mr. Black. 

Thanking Mr. White for his narration, he 
assured him that with his own musical gift and 
his Stradivarius, — a genuine one as he had seen 
by its form — he ought to have been heard from 
in New York and elsewhere, and by this time 
reaped a fortune, to compensate for the one he 
had lost. 

Little Mr. Whyte, with the greatest simplici- 
ty, acknowledged that although he had never 
played in public he had achieved quite a name 
in Milan, and Paris, and Venice, and in Lon- 
don also, with his violin, among the dilettanti di 
musica and even the maestri. 

“ I really care for little else in this world but 
music, — except my niece,” added he, and then 
reverting to the business on hand : '‘You 
knew,” said he, “ that the greater part of the 
valuable paintings and all the plate had been 
removed from the house ? ” 

Mr. Black was acquainted with the fact. 

“ And the greater part of the library also. 


Bretds Ghosts, 


5i 

But furniture and every thing else remain in- 
tact, and in a good state of preservation. The 
interior of the house has suffered little or none 
in comparison with the exterior. Its strong 
fastenings protected the house. The grounds 
suffered the most. If I were sharp, Mr. Black,” 
and little Mr. Whyte gave one of his twisted 
smiles, I should double on the price, it being 
the ghost your client demands. But I will be 
content with the fifty thousand dollars fixed 
upon a year ago, when it was ascertained no 
one would purchase on account of the ghost.” 

“ There is much legal justice in that way of 
putting the question,” returned Mr. Black, 
laughing. He then proposed waiting on Miss 
Garnet at once for her signature to the deed, 
which he had with him. 

Mr. Whyte, acquiescing, proceeded back to 
the house to lock the doors, and saddling his 
horse, he rode forth by the side of Mr. Black to 
make a business call on his niece. 

Some writing and witnessing and signing 
were done, and a legal transfer was made to 
Joslyn de Grey, of Elmwood, with its haunted 
house. 


IV. 


THERE ARE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE. 

HE hum of lesson -saying was hushed. 



X The patter of little feet and the patter of 
large feet had ceased making echoes in the 
great airy class-rooms of Miss Rutherfords 
Seminary, devoted to mischief and learning. 

It was Sunday morning, the day after the sale 
of Elmwood, and was just before the breakfast 
hour. 

Assembled in the pupils’ parlor were as many 
only of the fair owners of the pattering feet as 
were the regular boarding pupils of the estab- 
lishment, among whom the possession of that 
traditionary foot, under whose aristocratic arch 
the stream of water could flow, had become a 
standing boast ; while any allusion to the foot 
of that widely-sung Ethiopian maiden, the hol- 
low of which made a hole in the ground, gave 
great offence. 


52 


There are People and People, 63 

Miss Pella Morton, a young lady favored by 
fortune in being a “ red-headed heiress,'’ and a 
very pretty blonde belle, and who. was in her last 
year, and successfully undergoing the operation 
of being finished, had just remarked, in a mealy 
falsetto, that she saw “ no way of eluding the 
impending necessity of church attendance.” 

“ For my part,” exclaimed Miss Frank Bow- 
ers (Frank, seldom called by the gentler ab- 
breviation of Fanny, was also in her last year, 
but was not being finished, — the material refus- 
ing the finishing polish ; was also an heiress, 
but of the^ reverse type from Miss Morton, with 
jet-black hair, shading into that blue sheen of 
the raven’s wing about which poets used to rave 
before some hue of red became a fashionable 
necessity), — “ for my part, I have an excruciat- 
ing headache, and shall not go to church,’’ and 
Miss Bowers pointed her words by a significant 
nod that sent the shadows rippling down the 
crimped waves of her long, dark hair, like un- 
dulating clouds of fleece oyer a storm- sky. 

That means no breakfast,” squealed Miss 
Morton, elevating her pretty, classically-formed 
nose contemptuously. “ I shall not go without 
my breakfast for all the churches that were ever 
made.” 


54 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

“ I could quote Scripture about the advisa- 
bility of not living by bread alone, and all that, 
in favor of my argument,” returned Frank, if 
it were not slightly wicked ; Miss Morton en est 
r arbitre^' she added, with a humorous defer- 
ence that created a general laugh. 

Slightly wicked, and / the judge ! ” sneered 
Pella Morton, again elevating her nose and 
drawing down the corners of her prettily-chisel- 
led mouth. 

“ Friends, lovers, and so forth, lend me your 
ears,” quoted Frank, in dramatic contralto. 
“ Void ! I have, as I said, an excruciating head- 
ache, and it has attacked me in the form of an 
apple-pie, — a plump pie, deep and broad, like 
that famous one in the picture-books that B 
bit.” 

Stolen ! ” proclaimed Pella Morton. 

''Grand del! Here her — stolen! Not 
stolen I ” tragically rejoined Frank, deepening 
the rich contralto of her voice to produce as 
ludicrous a contrast as possible to Pella’s piping 
treble. ‘‘ Honestly bought, and with an honest 
tip to the cook big enough to insure secrecy,— r 
with a view to this Sunday morning’s delecta- 
tion.” 


There are People and People. 55 

‘‘ Bribery and corruption ! ’’ ejaculated Pella 
Morton, in her squeakiest falsetto. 

'' ye suis tout a vousl" returned Frank mock- 
ingly. “ As much bribery and corruption as 
you like. Que me voidez-vous ? '' 

What I would have of you is English. / 
never mix languages,” retorted Pella Morton. 

When / speak French I speak French, and 
when / speak English, I speak English d 

‘‘ How delightfully dissimilar we are ! ” said 
Frank, with good-humored irony. “ I always 
mix them. I liked them mixed. But to busi- 
ness. Who will join me in headache and pie ? 
There is sufficient for three square meals, — a 
perfect gorge ! It won’t do for too many to in- 
dulge in headache, or, to descend to the lan- 
guage of modern classics. Miss Rutherford 
would twig and wool us, — and worse, the pie 
would n’t hold out. Now who goes in for a 
pie-ous headache ? ” 

In the midst of the laughter that had to be 
kept within Sunday limits, two of Frank’s 
staunchest friends offered themselves as candi- 
dates. 

‘ Ha ! ’T is well ! ’ as Victor Hugo senten- 
tiously remarks. So now^ Pella Morton, s il 


56 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


vous plait, and all assembled, look to it that you 
do not peach, — if you do not — apple-pie.” 

During the fresh burst of laughter that fol- 
lowed Frank’s last essay, the door opened and 
Breta Garnet, exquisitely dressed in white and 
looking as cool and fresh as a tea-rose, walked, 
or rather seemed to float, into the room, — with 
such inimitable grace did she move. 

Are you not very warm in here this lovely 
morning?” asked she, her voice with a wood’s 
robin ring in it, while her large clear eyes took 
in something strange and not quite harmonious 
in the faces around her ; as with a tender, sym- 
pathetic glance, she looked from one to another. 

I left the door open for the western breeze that 
comes in through the windows of the corridor; 
but if you prefer it, girls, it can be closed again,” 
added Breta, as with a smile, her calm glance, 
with another questioning survey of the group, 
rested lovingly on the mischievous face of her 
friend Frank. 

“ Frank has a violent headache. Miss Breta, 
and was afraid of the draught,” responded Pella, 
with a winning smile. ‘‘ For myself,” she 
added, with a little high-treble laugh, ‘‘ I am 
fond of the air.” 


There are People and People. 67 

Sans do 7 ite; violent, on my z^<?-racity,'' re- 
turned the ready Frank in as cavernous a con- 
tralto as she could command without injury to 
her throat, and with diamond-pointed flashes at 
Pella from her black eyes that were brimming 
over with mirth, “The air is delicious, Miss 
Garnet. It was Pella, by the way, who her- 
metically sealed us in here, that she might 
have a comfortable growl about having no 
headache as pretext for non-church attend- 
ance. As for mine, it is not dangerous, — 
only slightly apple-plectic, and will readily yield 
to pie-ous meditation.” 

A soft light shone in Breta's dark gray eyes, 
and her mouth dimpled into a radiant smile, in 
sympathetic response to the laughter from the 
merry group at Frank’s bad puns. She seated 
herself on the sofa beside Frank, who was 
languidly fanning herself, with half-shut eyes, 
thereby showing to advantage their long, jet- 
black lashes ; and Breta was instantly sur- 
rounded by three or four of the younger girls. 
One, the youngest of Miss Rutherford’s pupils, 
a pretty child of eleven, and sister to Frank, 
wedged herself so closely to Breta that Frank 
uttered the protest : 


58 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

How can you be so rude, Nelly ? Don't 
you see you are rumpling Miss Breta’s lovely 
white muslin ? I would not have you all 
swarming and buzzing around me this hot day, 
like so many flies, for all the — " 

No one would ever dream of such a thing, 
sister Frank,” interrupted Nelly, with juvenile 
dignity You are not one of the kind. You 
are too much like Shakespeare's fretful porcu- 
pine, with sharp quills sticking out all around ; 
instead of being made of super-refined honey, 
like Miss Breta. Flies love honey,'' and Nelly 
gave Breta an emphatic hug. 

'‘ Nelly, if you won't say sharp things to your 
sister Frances, I will tell you and Grade Gay a 
story.” 

“ I hope it will have a moral that Frank can 
profit from. Miss Breta,” said Pella, turning 
sweetly to Breta. 

A brilliant light shot into Breta’s eyes, as 
with a significant smile she began : 

“ Once upon a time a great and powerful 
nation — that we might liken to a boarding- 
school, as from first to last it has had some hard 
old lessons to learn — rebelled against the tyr- 
anny of its rulers, who Avere rioting in feasts, 


There are People and People. 5 9 

while the poor people were ground down and 
starved. But, unfortunately, from listening to 
false teachers, the poor people went to such 
a mad extreme that the whole nation was 
deluged in rivers of blood, and the whole world 
was set in a blaze of indignation and dismay. 
Law and order in that nation were hooted 
down. Sunday, and all Sunday observances 
were trampled under foot, as they impeded what 
was called the growth of Reason. This deity 
• — for they made a goddess of the thing they 
called Reason, which had been nursed into life 
by the false teachers and the too apt pupils — was 
honored with altars, on which incense was 
burned, and before whose shrine torches blazed 
night and day. The days were divided into 
nine working days (in which very little work 
was done except cutting off people’s heads), 
and every tenth day was proclaimed a holiday 
for all kinds of mad revelry — a holiday of 
horrors. At last when the poor people had 
feasted on blood and terror long enough, they 
were only too thankful to be forced back into 
law and order and Sundays and churches and 
church-going.” 

“ A very terse synopsis of the ‘ Reign of 


6o The Benefit of the Doubt, 

Terror,’ and all aimed at me — a regular coup de 
foudre hitting the heart of the target. I, a 
rebel to discipline and church-going, am de- 
clared to embody the whole Jacobin outbreak, 
guillotine included. Meekly, therefore, in the 
language called slang — our modern classics that 
I love so well, — I can only say : ‘ Pile up the 
agony.’ ' I acknowledge the corn.’ ” And 
Frank accompanied her words with intonation 
of voice and look of such droll resignation that 
the whole crowd of girls, including Pella — 
always her antagonist — broke into a peal of 
irresistible laughter. 

Breta endeavored to preserve a decorously 
straight face, but was compelled to give way to 
laughter with the rest. Frank’s quick eye 
noted this last convert to her power, and her 
face settled into the contented expression of hav- 
ing won a highly prized victory. 

Mamma tried and tried to break Frank 
from making funny faces,” put in Nelly Bowers, 
'' telling her it was n’t refined and lady-like, 
and all that. She told her that she might as 
well turn circus clown and done with it, — and 
that the height of her ambition was to make 
fools laugh. I always noticed, though, that 


There are People and People, 6i 

mamma could never finish her lecture without 
ending with a laugh herself.” 

Nell, never tell tales out of school. But, 
allons\ to return to our mutton,” resumed 
Frank. As the Reign of Terror could be 
traced back to the false teachers, so, all we board- 
ing-school victims need to make angels of us, 
are teachers who have sense enough not to 
bulldoze us into doing our duty. Now when 
I—” 

“Very seditious sentiments!” piped in Pella. 
“ Angels, indeed I and bulldoze too! Just as 
though we did not have it all in us and more 
too.” 

“ Oh, yes ; I know you believe in total de- 
pravity of infants and all that blue-nosed bosh,” 
returned Frank, her black eyes flashing disdain. 
“ Now let us go back to first principles Who 
taught Eve — a lady who was altogether good 
and lovely — to eat apples — before they were 
made into pies, — but the false teacher, Satan ? ” 
“ Eve had it all in her ; and I consider it 
sacrilegious to call her a lady, just as though — ” 
“ Why, Pella, you would n’t call her a gentle- 
man, would you ? ” asked Frank, with a pre- 
tended simplicity that caused a laugh. 


62 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

As though she v/ere like any one else/’ 
continued Pella disdainfully. ‘‘ But she had it 
all in her or she would not have listened to 
Satan/’ concluded Pella, with spiteful decision. 

Don’t believe a word of it. Have you 
nothing to say in defence of our first mother, 
Miss Garnet ? Sail in, this is a free fight.” 

“Be still, Frank ! You sha’ n’t drag my Miss 
Breta into your discussions, as you call them, 
with Pella,” exclaimed little Nelly Bowers, 
throwing her arms lovingly around Breta, 
starched muslin included. “You know you 
never believe a word you are saying, Frank, 
and only talk to set Pella on.” 

“Miss Breta is fully able to defend herself, 
Nell,” piped up Pella. “ Do tell us, Miss Breta, 
that you consider Frank has entirely the wrong 
side of the question. And then, too, any one 
can tell her she has been indulging in very trivi- 
al behavior for Sunday.” 

With a sweet serenity of manner all her own, 
Breta said she was strongly reminded of the 
fable of the chameleon ; “which ends, as you 
all know,” she continued, “ with the umpire’s 
producing a specimen of that saurian that — by 
a chance always occurring in stories — he hap- 


There are People and People, 63 

pened to have handy in his pocket. Whereby 
he proved two things : The difficulty of judg- 
ing from appearances; and that a conclusion 
may be both right and wrong.” 

“ Aimed at both of us, Pella. Our folly 
might have been answered by a long, bulldoz- 
ing moral essay,- — 

“ Frank would not have lived the night 
through, if she had not gotten in her favorite 
word again,” broke in Pella. 

By a long, bulldozing moral essay,” continued 
Frank, “that would have tired me out and made 
me determined to stick to my own opinion, es- 
pecially if a wrong one — which it generally is. 
Now when I leave school I shall set up a model 
boarding-school with Miss Garnet at the head, 
— for having the hunkiest way of making one 
in love with duty and self-sacrifice and other 
disagreeable things. She dl turn out a whole 
raft of Martha Washingtons, Madame de 
Staels — ” 

“ Don’t you think. Miss Breta, as a prepara- 
tory step, Frank had better give up slang?” 
asked Pella sweetly. 

“ Girls,” said Breta, rising with a smile that, 
unmistakable in its meaning, was the embodi- 


64 


The Benefit of the Doubt 


ment of sunshine, “ Miss Rutherford intimated 
last evening that she intends giving us the 
whole of one day this week for a picnic to 
Rocky Glen. We are to take every thing to 
make the day pleasant, — including apple-pies.’' 
And, with a significant glance at Frank that re- 
mained tender and loving in spite of its playful 
sarcasm, Breta left the room, with a light, easy 
grace of movement that Pella Morton had been 
long and vainly endeavoring to imitate. 

In the midst of the general satisfaction at the 
prospect of the picnic, Frank exclaimed : 

‘‘ It is all Breta Garnet’s doing. Miss Ruther- 
ford will grant her a favor she would not to the 
whole school combined.” 

‘‘ I hope Miss Rutherford will not fall ill in 
consequence,” sneered Miss Rivers, a tall 
young lady, also in her last year, and undergo- 
ing the finishing process. 

I am sure,” mildly expostulated pretty Sadie 
Burrill, Miss Rutherford is much more lenient 
than — ” 

Who constituted you her defender, Sadie ? ’’ 
snapped Pella. 

Pella means that, Sadie,” said Frank, laugh- 
ing. “ Now Breta Garnet,” continued she, 


There are People and People, 65 

‘‘ who is so different from every one else, — so 
superior — ” 

“You could put a Miss to her name if she 
is,” again snapped Pella. “ She is our teacher 
in singing if she is just your age and just my 
age. And besides she is a great prima donna, 
if she is here teaching singing. / always call 
her Miss Breta, although she is no older than I 
am, and proper respect demands — ” 

“ Proper fiddlesticks ! ” elegantly broke in 
Frank. “ When any one is wonderful,” she 
continued, her great velvety black eyes flash- 
ing, and the rich coloring of her face growing 
more vivid, as a smile full of playful sarcasm 
curved her mouth, “ we do not not say Miss 
in speaking of them. Who says Miss Lind, or 
Miss Arc, or Miss Nightingale, or Miss Patti? 
Is n’t it always Jenny Lind, Joan of Arc, Flor- 
ence Nightingale, Adelina Patti ? Now Breta 
Garnet is wonderful [Frank grew earnest]. She 
sings as divinely as Malibran — Papa has heard 
them both, and he knows — and she would have 
made as great a name if she had only kept on. 
She is just too lovely for any thing — even to 
her dress. Which one of us could have a 
crowd of children hanging around us, as she 


66 The Be^iejit of the Doubt. 

always has, and keep fit to be seen ? They 
don’t phaze her gown ” ; Frank threw a glance 
over at Pella and repeated : ‘'They diOViX. phaze 
her gown. I think she inherits the gift from 
Mrs. Radcliffe’s ^ heroines, who could travel 
through underground passages, and be confined 
in dungeons, and then come out shining in 
snowy-white costume, ready for a ball or a 
wedding.” 

“ Nothing so marvellous about Miss Breta s 
gown to-day, if they don’t phaze it. Phaze in- 
deed! Real India mull does n’t crease,” said 
Pella loftily. “ Though, as every one knows, 
Miss Breta is a young lady who is superior in 
every respect.” 

“ Miss Breta does every thing exquisitely. 
Frank exaggerates nothing in calling her won- 
derful, she being gifted with that rare thing 
— ^genius,” said pretty Sadie Burrill, who, be- 
sides being a very pretty young lady, a year 
younger than Frank, was her warmest friend. 
“ And then, too,” she continued in her pleasant 
voice, “ Miss Breta Garnet has been thoroughly 
educated. And as for her dress — why, in Paris 
and Milan, where she has spent so many years 
of her life, well, — in Italy dress is one of the 


There are People and People, 67 

Fine Arts, and in Paris it is one of the Posi- 
tive Sciences/' 

“ There are people and people," exclaimed 
Frank Bowers, giving Sadie a bright, apprecia- 
tive look ; people with their dogmas that 
offer premiums on deception (I lay the whole 
of this apple-pie shindy on • the Rutherford 
shoulders, and sha' n’t flunk out now I am in 
for it) ; and then there are people who give you 
better impulses and make you ashamed of 
every thing that is not as good and pure as 
themselves. I know only one such, and she 
has just gone out of the room in a cloud of 
white muslin, lacking wings only to make her 
an angel." 

“ Hear, hear ! " declaimed Pella Morton. 

“ She puts you in mind of the Mona Lisa ; 
Papa brought a rare copy from Italy, for which 
he gave a fabulous sum. She has the same 
tender, mellow eyes, and charm of face, that 
looks as though she went showering down 
apple blossoms, cool and fragrant upon the — " 

“ Hear ! hear ! " broke in Pella again, with a 
shrill little laugh. 

But there was no chance to hear, for the din 
of the breakfast bell started into activity the 


68 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


patter and clatter of the various-sized feet,— the 
half-repentant Frank Bowers being left with 
only one of her proselytes, the other having 
deserted her standard. 

“We shall kill ourselves, Sadie,” said she dis- 
mally to her ally. “ You will have to go one 
half the pie, I the other. They will range our 
tombstones side by side, with the sacred and 
appropriate, if ungrammatical, inscription on 
them of the Latin words : ' Pi-et-as-beat-2tm! ” 


“DO HURRY ON.” 


LL the church bells of the village were ring- 



l\ ing, and Miss Marcia Rutherford — tow- 
ering above her sex, like the Roman Marcia — 
was out upon the lawn in front of her seminary, 
surrounded by her pupils, who, with their fair, 
fresh faces, and in their pretty summer dresses, 
looked like a flock of milk-white doves ready 
for a flight ; Miss Rutherford herself appearing 
like a well-disposed royal eagle, who, instead of 
eating up all the doves at a meal, was peacefully 
marshalling them into marching order. 

Miss Rutherford’s Seminary — like herself, 
lofty and imposing in appearance — was situ- 
ated on an elevation of ground at the edge of 
the village and overlooking it. At the back, 
and on each side of the school-buildings, was a 
grove of magnificent trees, among which, con- 
spicuous, was the Northern species of the 


70 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

giant magnolia, with its stiff, inodorous yel- 
low blossoms, known as the tulip or cucumber 
tree. 

A long, straight row of Lombardy poplars, 
ranged at measured, distances along the entire 
front of the lawn, before the seminary, gave 
it a military, well-guarded appearance. 

Miss Rutherford, liberal in all things consist- 
ent with her position as head of a young ladies’ 
academy, permitted her pupils to worship at 
various churches, in accordance with the tenets 
of their parents ; insisting only in giving in 
command at least one teacher to each division 
of pupils, as young ladies of boarding-schools 
are not proverbial for sedateness. 

Forsaking the dusty road, their way to the 
village, by a short cut, lay through a shady 
lane, and then across a short strip of meadow, 
along the- banks of a stream margined by wil- 
lows, — in all less than a quarter of a mile. 

The school procession was always a pretty 
sight as it entered the village ; teachers and pu- 
pils filing off so orderly to their respective 
churches. Miss Rutherford heading the largest 
division, mild Miss Amanda (Miss Rutherford’s 
sister) the next, and so on, down to the two who 


Hurry On!' 


71 


accompanied Breta to the Gothic Episcopal 
Church. 

Breta, on this day, proceeded to her church 
alone, Frank and Sadie being victims to the 
Sunday headache Miss Rutherford did not 
deem it prudent to gainsay. 

In the picturesque little church-yard, fragrant 
with vines and roses, Breta passed a number of 
people, all of whom greeted her effusively ; 
for, with her beautiful voice and sweet face, she 
was everywhere a favorite. 

Going up the aisle to the choir, which was 
built down on the floor of the church, in the en- 
closure to the right of the chancel, Breta found 
her uncle seated at the organ, awaiting the last 
toll of the bell to commence his voluntary. 

He leaned over toward her as she took her 
•usual seat near him, and asked in undertone 
why Miss Bowers and Miss Burrill were not 
with her. 

'' They stayed at home to eat apple-pie,'’ re- 
plied Breta, in the same sotto voce. 

Mr. Whyte, quite mystified for a moment, 
then made it apparent, by one of his twisted 
smiles, that he had taken the situation in* 

I am sorry,” whispered he, ‘‘ not to have 


72 The Benefit of the Doiibt, 

Miss Bowers' contralto, as I invited Mr. de Grey 
to hear the music. That is he on the last of the 
choir seats. A wonderfully fine face has he 
not ? He arrived at the old place last even- 
ing. My dear, as Miss Bowers is not here you 
cannot sing the Quis est Homo; the Stabat 
Mater will have to wait. You must sing a solo 
instead, — ‘ I know that my Redeemer liveth.' ” 

“ Any thing you please, Uncle Ray, dear, but 
don’t let us talk any more, people are beginning 
to look this way.” 

Little Mr. Whyte, taking a modest survey 
around the church, with the fresh, innocent way 
he had, that made him always young, began 
softly turning over the loose music scores that 
were lying on the top of the upper manual, 
one of which he handed to Breta. 

Breta fastened her eyes determinedly on the* 
score, having found them, in spite of herself, 
attracted in the direction of de Grey. 

“Uncle Ray is right, he has a wonderfully 
fine face,” thought she, much as though having 
contemplated a rare picture. “ A face altogether 
expressive of never having entertained one ig- 
noble thought, and he does not look in the least 
like one addicted to — ghosts.” 


Do Hurry On!' 


73 


Unconscious of Breta’s scrutiny, de Grey sat 
looking toward the church entrance, seemingly 
taking mental notes of the incomers as they 
entered their pews, his bearing indicating a 
person of refinement and culture. His forehead 
was broad ; his chin well defined, cleft and clean- 
cut, denoting resolution and courage ; with 
large steadfast eyes that had a dreamy look in 
them, his mouth gave promise of a warm, 
genial, mirth-loving nature. He had the dark 
hair and eyes, and the clear olive complexion 
that pronounced him a descendant of the Nor- 
man, rather than the Saxon race. 

He is an entirely new type,” mused Breta, 
who, with another glance at his still averted 
face, resolutely determined to look no more. 
“ As handsome as the Count Buonarotti (the 
handsomest man I ever saw), this de Grey has 
a look of having more to him than any one I 
ever met, — more capacity for comprehending 
every thing, or for suffering, or enjoying. His 
face, with all its brightness is instinct with 
sadness,- — the sadness one sees in the pictures 
of those old martyrs, the same indescribable 
sadness one hears in the undertone of all beau- 
tiful music, that underlies aU most grand in 


74 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

nature, — a sadness as terrible as it is undefina- 
ble ; one feels it. And yet he does not look like 
a melancholy person in the least, but as though 
it came from the perfect, the pounded-out har- 
mony of a nature that — ” 

Here the organ rolled in on Breta’s analyti- 
cal musings, arousing her to a sense of her sur- 
roundings. The services had commenced, and 
the choir were doing wonders, in spite of the 
absence of the leading contralto. They had 
been well drilled by the conscientious Mr. 
Whyte, and the music was well chosen. 

It was during the Venite Exultimus that 
Breta, seeing de Grey s hands held no prayer- 
book, — she did not lift her eyes to his face, — 
asked Mr. Blitson, the tenor, in a whisper, at 
the last chord of the amen, to hand him one. 

Mr. Blitson, with a bow of assent, handed the 
book to a pretty young lady who had come 
with Mrs. Strong, the second soprano ; she ac- 
cepting it with a brilliant blush. 

Taking another book from the rack, Breta, 
not to be balked in her charitable purpose, ad- 
vanced toward de Grey, while the choir were 
in the rustle of taking their seats. Half rising, 
de Grey, in the easiest manner possible, reached 


Do Hurry On!' 


75 


out his hand for the book, which was not a 
small one, and was metal-clasped and metal- 
cornered, and, just as his fingers touched it, it 
fell to the floor with a clang. 

As Breta instinctively stooped to pick it up, 
a hand was before her, — a hand large and 
shapely, that securely grasped the book. As 
hurriedly as she had stooped, she arose again ; 
her head coming in contact with a hard, unyield- 
ing substance that could only be de Grey’s 
head. 

Almost blinded with the tears forced from 
her eyes by the concussion, Breta cast a hasty 
glance, not at de Grey, but around the church, 
through the millions of stars that danced before 
her eyes, as she retreated to her seat. But 
she could not see that any one had observed 
any thing unusual. No one seemed to be at- 
tempting to conceal behind handkerchiefs or 
fans the smiles that must not be openly seen in 
church. 

This was a solace to her wounded head, to 
which she now stealthily raised her hand, find- 
ing to her satisfaction that the new bump lay 
securely hidden under the fluffy waves of her 
abundant hair. 


76 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

Breta sang her solo with all her accustomed 
maestria ; with tones pure, just, and well sus- 
tained ; and with accents that showed that the 
composition of the great composer was not only 
rendered with musical exactness, from con- 
scientious and intelligent study, but that it 
came, as well, from the singer’s heart, as 
though it might have been an improvisation of 
her own. 

It was not until she had finished singing that, 
feeling her eyes attracted to a certain point, 
Breta looked past the many strangers (there 
were always a number of strangers at church, 
mostly from New York, attracted by the sing- 
ing) to the right side of the nave, a little back, 
and encountered the eyes of Noel Dunraven 
fastened upon her. 

His being in church was not an unusual cir- 
cumstance, for during the three years that 
Breta had been at Miss Rutherford’s he was 
accustomed to spend most of his Sundays at 
Lea ; to hear his cousin Breta sing, as he said. 
But the expression in his blue eyes was a new 
one to Breta, well acquainted as she was with 
all the looks she had seen his eyes wear ; and 
it not only puzzled, but troubled her. 


'' Do Hurry On!' 


77 


He had been watching her from the first ; 
that she understood. He had seen all that had 
occurred, her confusion and distress (so well 
concealed from others), noting it all critically, 
not sympathetically ; that she also understood. 
What she did not understand was the odd 
shade, something cold, almost cruel, that had 
crept into his eyes ; and at intervals, during the 
rest of the service, her glance reverted uncon- 
sciously to him, and always to meet the same 
watchful look. 

‘‘ My dear,” said Mr. Whyte, when they were 
out on the green before the church, '' your 
tones in that inspiration of Handel’s actually 
moved me to tears. However much I may get 
mixed up on ghosts, I never do in music ; and I 
declare, as I have many times before, you have 
the divine gift of song.” 

“ It is a source of great consolation to me to 
be able to cause you to shed tears,” returned 
Breta, mischievously. “ But let us hurry up 
Uncle Ray, dear.” 

In coming out of church Breta had observed 
that Dunraven, contrary to his wont, had not 
joined them ; but she forgot to consider on the 
strangeness of it in her dread of encountering 


78 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


de Grey, to whom her eyes had not once 
glanced since the dropping of the book, and its 
consequences. And again she urged her uncle 
to haste. 

‘‘ I was rather loitering, my dear,” replied he, 
‘‘ on de Grey’s account, as I wish to make you 
acquainted with him, for he is an advent in this 
world of puerilities. As much so as even the 
immortal Handel’s music.” 

“ Do not let him hear you. Uncle Ray,” 
urged Breta in a low voice, as she hurried on. 

‘‘ He is back in the church-yard still, looking 
at the inscriptions on the tombs ; but when he 
overtakes us — ” 

'' Which I trust will not be. Let us walk 
faster. Miss Rutherford will be waiting I am 
cer — ” 

“ Why, my dear ! ” broke in Mr. Whyte, ex- 
amining his niece’s flushed face in astonish- 
ment. “What has de Grey done that you 
should wish to avoid him? I saw you hand 
him a book in the first part of the service.” 

“ Oh, don’t. Uncle Ray, dear, but do come 
on,” exclaimed Breta, desperately. 

“ Oh, certainly, my dear,” acquiesced Mr. 
Whyte, who, unable to fathom the subtleties of 


Do Hurry 


79 


a young lady's motive of action long since, 
gave up the conundrum in the present instance, 
and trotted nimbly beside his niece, asking her, 
with one of his twisted smiles,*if she thought of 
practising for a walking match. 

“ Uncle Ray," was Breta’s reply, as she still 
hastened forward, you must hold yourself in 
readiness to attend our picnic ; all the grandees 
of Lea are invited." 

Mr. Whyte, accepting the change of subject, 
made some cheerful remarks about the picnic, 
and then wondered where Noel could have 
strolled to ; asking Breta if she had not noticed 
him in church. 

Yes, I saw him," replied Breta, the un- 
wonted look in his eyes again recurring to her, 
but for an instant only, she being occupied 
with another troubling subject — for, hearing 
footsteps, she felt certain that de Grey was just 
back of them and was gaining upon them, and 
the bump loomed up in her mind again as promi- 
nently as it stood on her head, concealed in 
the fluff of her hair. 

“ If he should have a similar one, with no 
bang to hide it," irreverently thought she, 
“ on the organ of causality perhaps ! " It was 


So The Benefit of the Dotibt, 

not to be thought of, and yet she continued to 
let her thought feast upon the harrowing idea. 

She turned several shades paler as she 
looked up to acknowledge de Grey’s salutation, 
as, joining them, with no show of haste, he was 
introduced to her by Mr. Whyte with the 
courtly air of an old-time gentleman. 

Meeting only a respectful bow from de 
Grey, his brow as smooth as alabaster, his 
look calm to serenity, — a look so utterly igno- 
ring the bumps of this bumping world that 
Breta, mentally recording him as one posses- 
sing the soul of a true gentleman, felt all her 
nervous apprehensions dissipated as by magic ; 
and she chatted freely with him until they came 
to the neat little village park where Miss Ruth- 
erford’s teachers and pupils were accustomed to 
re-assemble. 

There, beside Miss Rutherford, his tall form 
conspicuous far above her tall form, stood Dun- 
raven in a magnificent attitude, the evident ad- 
miration of her pupils. 

He was conversing with Miss Rutherford 
with his customary grace and savoir-vivre ; 
and when Breta, her uncle, and de Grey joined 
them, his bow to Breta and his distinguished 


''Do Hurry On,'' 


manner in recognizing his uncle’s presentation 
to him of de Grey, threw the quiet, unassuming 
de Grey entirely into the shade in the opinion 
of most of the fair pupils, who, sitting on the 
park benches, or standing in groups, were 
awaiting the last of their number. 

Is n’t he a love ? ” whispered Miss Beebe 
to Miss Rivers. 

Which he ? ” asked Miss Rivers. 

“ Why, Mr. Dunraven, of course. Such dis- 
tinguished manners ! Such a bearing — so very 
tall and elegant ! Oh, he ’s just too lovely for 
any thing.” 

“ I have heard you make that same remark, 
Lina Beebe, nearly every Sunday for three 
years,” returned Miss Rivers, scornfully. For 
my part,” she added, “ I think Mr. de Grey is 
handsomer by far, just tall enough,” — she was 
tall herself. ‘‘ He is what I call quietly ele- 
gant.” 

Meanwhile, the subjects of this and similar 
snatches of conversation were making them- 
selves agreeable. Dunraven, who, after a few 
words to Breta, finding her occupied with de 
Grey, having turned to Miss Amanda Ruther- 
ford, was entertaining her with an account of 


The Benefit of the Doubt. 


some Congressional doings during his late visit 
to Washington ; at the same time keeping his 
blue eyes on Breta. 

Miss Rutherford, after several civil speeches 
to de Grey, seated herself, and began discus- 
sing some sacred music with Mr. Whyte, in 
view to her semi-monthly musicale. 

“ I cannot tell you what pleasure your singing 
gave me to-day. Miss Garnet,” said de Grey. 

Everybody had always gone in raptures over 
Breta’s singing, but there was that in de Grey’s 
tone, so full of an underlying power, causing 
his words to sound so little like a commonplace 
compliment, that she felt singularly stirred by 
them. 

I was prepared by what Mr. Black told me, 
— he heard you sing in Milan, Miss Garnet,” — 
continued de Grey, and also by what your un- 
cle said, to hear — a remarkable voice. But I 
was in nowise prepared for — for just what I 
heard, so excelling every thing I ever thought 
possible in singing.” 

Again it was the single-hearted candor of 
tone that made the words seem so significant, 
and so difficult to respond to. Breta was spared 
the necessity of reply further than the inclina- 


Do Hurry On!' 


83 


tion of head and little smile she had given him, 
as the expected pupils came up and Miss 
Rutherford started the procession in motion. 

Mr. Whyte and de Grey bowed their leave ; 
but Dunraven walked on with Breta and Miss 
Rutherford, punctiliously taking the side of the 
latter. 

Arriving at the seminary, Dunraven chatted 
a few moments, in the presence of Miss Ruther- 
ford, with those of the young ladies to whom he 
had been introduced at her musicales, thereby 
causing a severe fluttering of Miss Beebe’s very 
admiring heart. 

Later on, finding himself alone with Breta, in 
the seminary parlor, he compelled silent admira- 
tion from her with his brilliant description of 
his Washington visit. He confined himself so 
exclusively to generalities that she was conver- 
sing unreservedly with him until, rising, he 
walked across the stately parlor and stood be- 
fore the grim portrait of a Rutherford ancestor, 
for a moment. 

Breta,” said he, returning and seating him- 
self beside her in elegant pose, “ either I am 
the most patient, long-sufTering man in the 
world, or you the most charming woman. I 


84 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

am persuaded both are true : I, the only man 
in the universe whose love would not have died 
a natural death years ago — for how can love 
live with nothing to feed upon ? And that you 
are the most charming of your sex goes without 
saying, for, before the vividness of your beauty 
all other beautiful faces near you grow dim. 
And notwithstanding all your friendly coldness 
and cruelty to me I love you more this day than 
ever before, — and my whole life has been one 
long dream of love for you.” 

“ Did you compose that, Noel, as you stood 
before Miss Rutherford s grandfather ? ” asked 
Breta, with keen irony of tone. 

‘‘ I can wait as long as Jacob — that other 
long-suffering man,” continued Dunraven, as 
though Breta had not spoken. But I must 
have my Rachel in the end. There ! Do not 
reply, Breta, cugina mia. There is no call for a 
reply.” 

Breta had stirred and had lifted her face 
again. It was very pale, and there was a cold, 
unresponsive look in her eyes that visibly 
affected Dunraven, and he made haste to add, 
with a light laugh : 

'' Recollect, you have not refused me, Breta. 


Do Hurry On!' 


85 


Excuse me, but do not say a word, I entreat.’’ 

Breta, raising her calm eyes and resting them 
full upon his face, had parted her lips and drawn 
her breath as though about to speak. 

'' Much as I love the sound of your sweet 
voice, cugina mia, I do not care to hear it now. 
I can get along quite well without — a mitten,” 
continued he, with an easy lightness of tone 
and a light laugh. “ I go, as heretofore, with 
the benefit of a doubt to — cheer me.” And 
with this little parting jibe, Dunraven, rising, 
extended his hand to Breta, and taking hers, 
carried it to his lips in foreign fashion, and 
gracefully bowed himself out of the room. 


VI. 


IN THE FOREST- GLOAMING. 

OU must give no lessons this afternoon 



JL Miss Garnet/' said Miss Rutherford the 
next day after dinner. “ You are looking pale, 
and I see you have eaten almost nothing since 
yesterday. The sun evidently was too much 
for you." 

The two sons were too much for me," 
parenthetically thought Breta. 

'' The philosopher has not written," contin- 
ued Miss Rutherford, “ who has explained why 
our hottest days come on Sunday. By the way, 
my dear, I invited Mr. Dunraven to our picnic. 
He is an uncommonly fine young man, of whom 
any one may well be proud. I was never more 
impressed by his bearing than I was yesterday." 

Left to herself, with the afternoon before her, 
Breta sought the rest she certainly so much 
needed, in the shade of the woods. And never 


86 


87 


In the Forest- Gloaming. 

before had she so well understood the meaning 
of the sermon preached by bird, bee, blossom, 
and running water. 

She sat on the mossy bank, watching the 
dace and minnow dart and glide, and now and 
then a speckled trout rise suddenly up through 
the clear water, in which the feathery blue gen- 
tian and delicately articulated brake were mir- 
rored. Or, reclining against some giant tree, 
that had stood in stately grandeur for ages, she 
watched the flickering lights and shadows 
through its branches, and the time passed lazily 
and refreshingly by. 

I will wait until that splendid brown thrash- 
er is through his song, and then I will go,’' 
thought she. 

The thrush and she were both startled by a 
crunching of dead twigs, and looking around 
she beheld a huge Newfoundland dog coming 
rapidly toward her. 

Rising to her feet she saw the dog came with 
no hostile intent, but in imperative supplication, 
as he looked at her with praeter-canine, almost 
human eyes of entreaty, slowly wagging his 
great bushy tail, and gently pulling at the skirt 
of her dress. 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


Following the dog s lead into a bridle-path, 
a turn in the path revealed a sight that made 
Breta’s heart stand still. 

Is he dead ? ’’ she ejaculated. But there 
was no one to reply but the dog, and he seemed 
to be asking the same question. 

After a moment of almost paralyzed terror 
Breta stooped down and interrogated first the 
wrist, then the heart of the apparently breath- 
less form prone on the leafy ground, — the form 
of the very one of whom she had been thinking 
while listening to the lay of the brown thrasher, 
— and to her inexpressible relief, beneath her 
own pulsing fingers she felt the slow beats of an 
almost extinguished life. 

‘‘ Water! she exclaimed, rising quickly to her 
feet. What can I find that will hold water ? ” 
Solemnly and appealingly the great dog, with 
his honest brown eyes, looked into her face, 
and then went on licking his master s hands. 

Breta caught some leaves from the bough 
of a tree, and crowding them flat-wise into her 
straw hat, and holding them down tightly with 
her hand, she managed to bring from the stream 
close by sufficient water to drench his face and 
hair. 


In the Forest- Gloaming, 


89 


This she repeated again and again, stopping 
only to chafe his hands and face, — the dog look- 
ing on intently, with every now and then a low 
whine, — until at last the object of her solicitous 
efforts opened his eyes. 

Thank heaven, Mr. de Grey, you have 
come to ! ” fervently ejaculated Breta, with a 
great sigh of relief. “ I thought you never 
would revive.” 

You, Miss Garnet!” and de Grey, rising to 
a sitting posture, repeated: ‘‘You, Miss Gar- 
net 1 Please tell me what it means. I do not 
seem to recollect myself.” 

“You have been thrown from your horse, 
Mr. de Grey — I see him standing there, — and 
your head struck on that piece of rock,” said 
Breta, stooping down to examine the spot where 
his head had been. “ It is a smoothly-worn 
stone embedded in the moss, or otherwise it 
might have cut your head severely.” And 
Breta passed her little ungloved hand softly 
over the mossy stone again. “ I was in the 
woods close by,” continued she, replying to his 
still asking eyes, “ and your dog found me and 
brought me to you. Tell me, if you can, what 
I shall do for you. Shall I go for a physician ? ” 


go The Benefit of the Doubt. 

'' I think, Miss Garnet,” returned he, you 
have proved yourself the best physician I could 
have had, and my opinion is you have saved my 
life. Let me see what I can do to help myself 
before accepting your solicitous offer. You look 
pale. I am sorry to have been the occasion of 
such a fright to you. My worst injury is a large 
protuberance near the back of my head.” De 
Grey, speaking very lightly to make light of his 
hurt, was now standing on his feet, his hand on 
that part of his head where phrenologists locate 
caution. 

In the midst of her apprehensions for him, 
Breta felt herself flushing, as, with dismay, she 
mentally exclaimed : “ Another new bump ! ” 

Instantly accusing herself of lightness and in- 
considerateness, and feeling fearful he was not 
so far recovered as he Avished to make it seem, 
Breta insistingly proposed going to Elmwood, 
near at hand, to fetch her uncle. 

If, Miss Garnet,” replied de Grey, leaning 
against the trunk of a tree and looking fright- 
fully pale, you could bring me a draught, of 
water from the same source with which you s.o 
mercifully and bountifully baptized my face, I 
think I could manage to get home. I find this 
dizziness still hangs over me,” 


In the Forest- Gloaming. 91 

'' Most gladly. But I have only my hat.” 
And she held it up all dripping. 

“ Hold! I have a leathern drinking-cup in 
my pocket. You are, then, the veritable Un- 
dine I thought you vrhen I opened my eyes and 
beheld you in the forest-gloaming through glis- 
tening water-drops? I saw Herr Adrian cook 
eggs in a felt hat; but I doubt if even his necro- 
mancy could make a little straw-hat hold water,” 
said de Grey, as he handed her the cup. 

When she returned with it filled, de Grey 
was sitting on a fallen log, looking still very 
pale, and he again regretted the trouble he was 
giving her. 

I beg you not to speak in that way, Mr. de 
Grey. I would walk leagues to — Mr. de Grey 
you are looking alarmingly pale.” And as 
Breta relinquished to his grasp the yielding 
leathern cup, so difficult to manage, her soft, 
warm fingers were accidentally clasped for an 
instant by his hand. 

Breta in that instant felt the blood from her 
heart rush to her fingers’ ends and glow in her 
cheeks ; and de Grey, as he drank the water, 
declared himself wonderfully revived. 

“And no marvel,” added he, “that water, 


0 2 The Be^tefit of the Doubt. 

being furnished you by your Uncle Kuhleborn> 
was enchanted, having great magnetic virtue in 
it. I feel now quite able to walk.” 

Giving no hint of his consciousness that the 
enchantment lay in the touch of her magnetic 
fingers, de Grey again assured Breta he Avas 
well enough to walk. Her confusion gone, 
she was able to meet his eyes, and proposed 
accompanying him to Elmwood. 

“ Uncle Ray will be only too glad to drive 
me home again,” urged she, “ and I am really 
too terrified to think of your going alone.” 

“ Your kindness is only exceeded by my 
gratitude, Miss Garnet,” returned de Grey. 

And you will ride,” said Breta, smiling at 
his words. I am quite used to horses and can 
readily catch yours and bring him to you, Mr. 
de Grey.” 

“I will walk if you will permit me, Miss Gar- 
net ; Selim will come to my call and follow like 
a dog.” 

As they moved on, the horse appearing quite 
dejected, the Newfoundland, deliberately for- 
saking his master, went to the other side of 
Breta, looking from time to time up into her 
face. 


In the Forest- Gloaming, 


93 


Ulysses will always owe you allegiance, 
Miss Garnet ; he never forgets a friend — or a 
foe/’ And de Grey related several anecdotes 
of the dog’s great sagacity. 

Your horse, Mr. de Grey, is a beauty. Se- 
lim do you call him ? He really looks sorry, 
as though he understood what he had done. 
But he should have known better than to throw 
you.” 

“ I will tell him so when I get him alone, and 
he will be ashamed of himself. It is his first 
offence.” And from Selim and Ulysses they 
went to other topics ; and by the time they 
reached Elmwood, Breta thought she had never 
spent so delightful a half hour. 

“ My dear,” said Mr. Whyte to her, on their 
way back to the school, “ young de Grey thinks 
to systematize those ghosts ; but I tell him no 
philosophy dug out of the past or eliminated 
from the present, can ever systematize a ghost, 
the most unreliable, the most — ” 

“ Mr. de Grey is surely of sound mind. Uncle 
Ray, is he not ? ” marvelled Breta. 

“ None sounder. He has studied rosicru- 
cian lore, young as he is, so deeply, that he 
fairly makes my head spin to hear him talk of 


94 


The Benefit of the Doubt. 


his ‘ Three Fires/ and ‘Dissolvents/ and ‘In- 
ternal Illuminations/ and ‘ Calcinations/ ” 

“ I can well understand that, Uncle Ray; for 
when I was studying Harmony, the technical 
expressions continually posed me. I could 
comprehend the prohibition of consecutive fifths 
(unless managed as adroitly as Beethoven and 
Chopin manage them) both by their sound to 
the ear as well as by the rule. But speaking 
of consecutive fifths as the quint succession 
was at first very puzzling. And also that the 
Monophonic tone-chain, and the Duophonic, 
Triphonic, Tetraphonic, and Polyphonic, meant 
no more than one-voiced, two-voiced, and so 
on, compositions. And as for the Ecclesiastical 
keys — the Ionian, Dorian, Myxolidian, and the 
rest, — they were a perfect 7niXy until of a sud- 
den I saw how simple they really are, al- 
though differing from our modern quint circle, 
in which the progression of keys is always a 
fifth distant from the preceding one.” 

“ My dear,” it is always the technicalities of 
science that are more difficult to surmount than 
the science itself. There must be some boun- 
dary line hard to cross, or everybody would 
know as much as the teachers ” ; and Mr. Whyte 


In the Forest- Gloaming. g5 

looked at his niece with his twisted smile. 

But de Grey seems to have studied them 
all/' continued he, — sciences, arts, and techni- 
calities. Not that he attempts to show off ; he 
really seems so unconscious of how much he 
has learned and thought, that it is quite refresh- 
ing to meet one so little egotistical. But some- 
how what he knows seems to radiate from him 
when he is talking with — " 

With any one like yourself. Uncle Ray, 
who also has studied so profoundly. Y ou 
should hear what Miss Rutherford says. She 
has great reverence for the mass of information 
you have acquired on all scientific subjects, 
especially music," said Breta, proudly. 

Except the science of ghosts, Breta. When 
it comes to ghosts, I — but concerning de Grey’s 
philosophy of ghosts, — or unseen powers as he 
calls them. He has based his theory on the 
opinions taught by Socrates, Plato, and the sub- 
sequent rosicrucians (not that they taught or. 
wrote about ghosts at all), and has studied 
Jacob Boehme and all the modern metaphysical 
writers (not that any of these write about ghosts 
either, for they do not) ; but the result of all his 
studies combined, has been to develop a pre- 


g6 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

conceived opinion of his own on the subject, 
which seems to be, that a more rapid develop- 
ment in religion, science, and art can be at- 
tained, than has yet been dreamed of in the 
present crude state of the world, through the 
co-agency of the unseen world, and by means of 
some philosophico-scientific process that I can- 
not exactly comprehend (I always do get mixed 
up on ghosts), which, causing the spiritual and 
physical worlds to coalesce, will produce this 
happy result. But he needs a house, such as 
the one he has just purchased, in which to work, 
you see.” 

Excuse me. Uncle Ray, I do not see. And 
I should say Mr. de Grey had better let the 
unseen world and the unseen powers alone 
until the time comes for him to see them. A 
higher development is all the time gradually 
coming. There is scarcely a day that we do 
not hear of some grand scientific discovery, or 
some great invention, — such as, only a day or 
two ago, this wonderful telephone.” 

'' My dear, soine of the modern philosophers 
go so far as to assert that every discovery or 
invention that is effected, proceeds ’from — di- 
rectly from ghosts ; in short, that we are noth- 


In the Forest- Gloaming, 


97 


ing of ourselves, except as ghosts speak, act, 
and think through us.” 

“ Does Mr. de Grey believe any thing so — 
so preposterous as that } ” exclaimed Breta, 
aghast. 

Far from it, my dear. He believes nothing 
of that sort. Do not look so shocked. That 
is no part of his belief. But he goes further 
than I can when he asserts that ghosts (or un- 
seen powers) can be systematized and utilized.” 

'' Now, Uncle Ray, dear, we all know that 
many strange things have been, such as the un- 
accountable occurrences that transpired in the 
family of John Wesley, for instance — ” 

And in that Elmwood house we have just 
left, for instance,” interrupted her uncle. 

'' All these are bad enough or good enough, 
as people think, when they come of themselves,” 
resumed Breta. But going in search of the 
supernatural I should think would unfit any one 
— it would me — for the natural occurrences of 
life. Besides all that, we are expressly warned 
against hunting after signs and wonders. And 
now that we understand the real significance of 
the injunction concerning the sign of the prophet 
Jonah, it should be as much respected by us as 


98 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

it was not by those perverse old Jews to whom 
it was given.” 

‘‘ My dear little niece, your opinion is without 
doubt a correct one, but your elucidation of it, 
like those of more profound metaphysicians on 
other subtle questions, is as clear as mud.” 

You may laugh at me. Uncle Ray,” said 
Breta, with a bright smile. 

“ My dear, if I laugh,” replied Mr. Whyte, 
with his twisted smile, ‘‘ it is at the ignorance 
of the learned, who, in trying to make things 
clear, make nothing clear but that they do not 
understand their own subject. Dropping all 
this, de Grey made me acquainted with the 
principles of the rosicrucian faith, interesting 
me beyond measure. Not a word of ghosts, 
mark you. The Rosy-cross-men were simply 
philosophers in search of the truth, and they 
were obliged to conceal the truths at which 
they arrived under symbols and numerical 
figures ; as any ennobling truth divulged in 
those heathenish days meant — to those who 
permeated these truths — persecution, by the 
besottedly ignorant and prejudiced priests ; for 
the most part ending in death. Their philoso- 
pher’s stone, in its fullest interpretation, 


In the Forest- Gloaming, 


99 


meant man. Calling it ‘ gold/ it was typical, 
in the religious sense, of God’s love and wis- 
dom, also of truth ; and in the scientific sense 
it was typical of the perfection in chemical and 
astronomical achievement at which they aimed. 
That we owe our religious freedom to the inde- 
fatigable efforts of those martyrs of the her- 
metic school, is quite certain ; and that the study 
of hermetic lore should enchant and engross 
the mind of a young man of intelligence and 
leisure, like young de Grey, I can well con- 
ceive. But how he is going to apply those 
profound teachings of the past toward systema- 
tizing the capers of the ghosts of the present, is, 
as I have said, beyond my fathoming. But 
when it comes to ghosts, — as I have so often 
said, — I never do know, I get things mixed up 
so.” 


VII. 

SOMETHING IS GOING TO COME OUT OF ALL 
THIS.'' 

S Mr. Whyte and Breta drove up the 



seminary carriage-way after '‘tea," as 
the evening meal was called, although every 
one in the establishment, except the servants, 
drank milk in preference to the celestial bever- 
age, Mr. Whyte commented in his roseate 
way on the various merry groups of girls they 
passed on the lawn, who were engaged at 
croquet and lawn tennis. 

They found Miss Rutherford enjoying the 
cool breeze on the front veranda ; and Mr. 
Whyte, being held in high esteem by her as 
teacher of Harmony and Acoustics in her 
school, and as adviser and help when she had 
any musical doings on hand, was cordially 
greeted by her. He stopped but a moment, 
and with a parting salutation to her and Breta, 


lOO 


Something is going to come out of all this!' loi 

and a modest little bow to the young ladies on 
the lawn, as he passed them, he drove on. 

Breta, after supping alone, joined a knot of 
the older girls on the lawn, who were listening 
to an animated discussion between Frank and 
Pella. 

“ It ’s ghosts we Ve talking about. Miss Breta ; 
does not each particular hair on all our heads 
stand on end ? said Sadie Burrill — the same 
who had breakfasted on apple-pie with P'rank 
on Sunday. 

‘‘ I should like to know why we may not talk 
of them, after the long lecture Miss Rutherford 
gave us on ghosts this afternoon, while you 
were away. Miss Breta,'’ exclaimed Frank. 

She told us that — ” 

'' A lecture from Miss Rutherford on ghosts ! ” 
said Breta, smiling, as she looked questioningly 
from one to another. 

She said that these things are, and — ” 

'' That ghosts are ! ” again interrupted Breta. 
“ Did Miss Rutherford affirm the actual reality 
of — ” 

Of course she did not. Miss Breta,” said 
Pella Morton, in high falsetto. '' Miss Ruther- 
ford never mentioned the wwd ghost during 


102 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

the few remarks she made, which Frank, with 
her remarkable faculty for twisting things, 
affirms. She said that owing to certain electri- 
cal atmospheric conditions, telephonic sounds 
from time to time had been produced in certain 
localities unexplainable to our present compre- 
hension. And that when these psychical or 
physical subtleties, which (too well authenticated 
to doubt) had existed through all the worlds 
history, could be better understood, a natural 
and scientific explanation would be found for 
all these seeming marvels. She cited the 
mirages of the deserts, wherein cities miles off 
are reflected so perfectly as to deceive and mis- 
lead travellers, and gave us the scientific eluci- 
dation of these natural phenomena. She wound 
up by cautioning us that nothing can be more 
ruinous to all practical aims in life than to per- 
mit the mind to get swam.ped in the mazes and 
marvels of what is affirmed to be performed by 
agencies who have departed this life.” 

“ There, now ! if that is n’t ghosts, what is 
it? ” exclaimed Frank. I for one am free to 
say that I am afraid of ghosts, and no elucida- 
tion, however scientific, could ever make me do 
any thing but shudder at the thought even of 


Something is going to come out of all this!' 103 

hearing sounds for which I cannot account, or 
of seeing some one all of a sudden appear and 
then vanish into thin air. The telephone is a 
wonderful discovery, and when it carries sounds 
from one human being to another, is very in- 
teresting. But / like to know who is at the 
other end of the wire. Carrying on a tele- 
phonic conversation with a ghost is not to my 
mind. I agree with Horace that nec scire fas 
est omnia. It would be as much as my nec is 
worth to say nothing of my scire s to have any 
thing to do with scientific ghosts, or ghosts that 
do not even know the alphabet. I am glad you 
have sold your ghosts, Miss Breta, — which was 
the occasion, or were the occasion (bother 
grammar ! I don’t know which it is) of all that 
has been said.” 

Pella Morton was continuing the subject ; 
but Frank, twining her arm lovingly around 
Breta’s waist, asked her if she would not go 
and sit under the willows for a little while, as 
she had something very particular to say to 
her. 

Just see how Frank manages Miss Breta,” 
said Pella Morton, breaking off from her re- 
marks and turning up her pretty Greek nose 


104 Benefit of the Doubt, 

contemptuously. '' If Miss Breta could only 
realize how entirely deceitful Frank is — ” 

'' Frank has no more deceit in her than — ” 

'' Than you have, Sadie Burrill,’' interrupted 
Pella, with a little spiteful laugh. 

If it were not mean to be personal, Pella,” 
returned Sadie, “ I could prove who is deceit- 
ful. I do not consider the little affair of yester- 
day any test of deceit, as Frank and I did that 
for a piece of fun, and every one of you all 
knew of it.” 

'' Including Miss Rutherford,” said Pella, with 
another little laugh. 

Pella, I won’t talk with you any more about 
it,” and as Sadie turned to go, Pella, with an- 
other little laugh, exclaimed : 

Sadie Burrill, I see, is more afraid to face 
the truth than to perpetrate ‘ a piece of fun,’ as 
she calls it.” 

But Sadie, without hazarding a reply, walked 
over toward a group who were playing tennis ; 
looking admiringly, as she went, down at her 
handsome friend Frank, who, at that moment, 
seated on a log beside Breta, with one brown 
hand paddling in the limpid water of the brook, 
was saying : 


Something is going to come out of all thisS io5 

‘‘ Now, Breta, darling (Frank always dropped 
the prefix of Miss to Breta s name, when they 
were together alone, having told her punningly 
that she loved her too well to Miss her except 
when she must), you know, for I Ve said so, 
often, that you alone can put a head on me. 
I am glad to be able to swallow pride, and ac- 
knowledge that I was all wrong yesterday. I 
am so proud and hateful and obstinate that no 
one could ever get me to do any thing or learn 
any thing ; and I should have been worse than 
ever here if it had not been for you, Breta, dear. 
You influenced me straight along. It has been 
three years now, you were sixteen and a half 
and I was sixteen and a half — you might have 
been sixty and I six, for the difference in our ac- 
quirements. I did not realize it then, but know 
it now, and mamma fully understands it. She 
noticed the improvement in me every time I 
went home.’' 

Why, Frances ; why, dear Frank, how can 
you ? It was nothing. You have exaggerated 
it all.” 

‘‘Foolish, am I not?” exclaimed Frank, 
wiping from her eyes the moisture that had 
collected in them, and laughing at the same 


io6 The Benefit of the DonbL 

time. ''Who ever would have believed it, and 
of me? But what I say is true, and mamma 
wished to give you a grand present when you 
were home with me at Easter. But I would 
not let her wound you by any thing so patron- 
izing. I said to her : ' Suppose I should be 
good and lovely and fond of study and doing 
the right thing and that, would you like every 
one to be sending me costly gifts on account of 
it ? ’ And then mamma subsided. And now 
you ’ve had my -confession, I can only say that 
once wild horses could n’t have wrung it from 
me.” 

" I doubt if any thing could wring any con- 
fession from you, Frank. But pray don’t make 
any more to me.” 

" Agreed, for it is time now for you to con- 
fess. What is it that has changed you so, since 
yesterday? Your whole look is different, 
Breta.” 

" I know of no change in myself, you absurd 
Frank. But let me thank you for preventing 
your mother from making me a costly gift. It 
would have wounded me.” 

" Whom did you see at church yesterday, 
Breta ?” abruptly asked Frank. " I mean whom 


Something is going to come out of all this!' 107 

besides your everlasting cousin Noel ? He is 
always there ; I have no patience with him.” 

“ What, for going to church ? ” asked Breta. 
'' Poor Noel ! ” 

“ Breta, why do you let that — why do you 
permit Noel Dunraven to hang around you so 
year after year ? ” 

“ Is this the confession you wished me to 
make ? ” 

'' Do you intend to marry him ? ” 

“ Is that the confession you wished me to 
make ? ” 

Breta, you pretend to be my friend — are 
you ? ” 

Is that the con — ” 

“ For heaven’s sake don’t say that over 
again! You pretend to tell me everything, 
and yet, no matter how much I plead, you will 
say nothing about Noel Dunraven. I know no 
more of him — of your feelings toward him than 
— . Ishe— ?” 

He is my uncle’s nephew.” 

Do you love him ? ” 

‘‘ Should I not love my uncle’s nephew ? ” 

‘‘ Breta, you are awful. But we ’ll drop him. 
1 do not intend you shall marry him any way. 


io8 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

Now tell me about the other. Clara Rivers is 
wild about him. But I Ve no faith in her. Now 
for the confession.’' 

“ The other ! What other, Frank ? ” 

'' De Grey — the gentleman who bought Elm- 
wood. Was n’t he there ? ” 

'' Yes, Uncle Ray introduced him to me.” 

'' Is Mr. de Grey young or old ? ” 

“ He is twenty-six. Uncle Ray told me.” 

‘‘ Is he handsome ?” 

Remarkably so.” 

'' How did the music go ? ” 

‘‘ We missed your contralto, but otherwise 
Uncle Ray said the music went — went as 
usual.” 

What did you sing ? ” 

'' ‘ I know that my Redeemer liveth.’ ” 

''Ah, I know how that was sung; and what 
did Mr. de Grey say ? ” 

" He joined with Uncle Ray in approving the 
music.” 

" What happened this afternoon when you 
were out ? Did you see Mr. de Grey again ? ” 
" Frank, you are equal to a whole court of 
lawyers with your cross-questions. Let us go 
up to the house.” 


“ Something is going to come out of all this I' 109 

Breta, why did you come home with your 
Uncle Ray, and so late in the afternoon, unless 
you were at the old place, where de Grey un- 
doubtedly was ? ” 

‘'Your imagination is entirely too active, 
Frank, and for fear it may run off in the wrong 
direction I will set you right. Whilst down in 
the woods over there a large dog came and asked 
me to go with him. He took me to his master, 
who had been thrown from his horse and was 
insensible. I dashed water in his face and 
chafed his hands, which revived him. I then 
accompanied him to the old place, fearing he 
might need further assistance.” 

" And that was de Grey,” said Frank. She 
scrutinized Breta closely, but as Breta met the 
look with her clear blue-gray eyes full of the 
same steadfast, tender light that always shone 
in them, with no attempt at avoiding her intent 
look, Frank asked : 

" Was it Mr. de Grey’s proposition to accom- 
pany him ? ” 

" It was mine, Frank. Is the catechism 
over ? ” 

" Then you saved Mr. de Grey s life. That 
seems to be the long and the short of it. The 


no The Benefit of the Doubt, 

size of it, I should have said,” and Frank threw 
her eyes mischievously at Breta, with a laugh. 

“ Mr. de Grey said so,” said Breta, quietly. 
“ But very possibly he might have revived with- 
out assistance.” • 

And very probably he would not. Those 
suspensions of life have to be met very prompt- 
ly, or — ” 

‘‘ At all events I was terribly alarmed. And 
the feeling of relief was unspeakable when he 
opened his eyes.” 

Both were silent for a few moments. At 
length Frank asked : 

Did you see any thing, or hear any thing 
from any of your — no, Mr. de Grey’s — ” 

'' I have never once heard the slightest unac- 
countable noise in that house, often as I have 
been there, during the three years I have been 
back from Europe. I think as Miss Rutherford 
does about — the noises.” 

And that they are not — ” 

I never thought them disembod — I have 
really never given the subject any serious 
thought.” 

“ Was Mr. de Grey recovered from his fall ? ” 

He seemed to be, though still fearfully pale. 


Something is going to come out of all thisS 1 1 1 

He insisted on helping Uncle Ray harness his 
horse/' 

“ Has Mr. de Grey no groom there ? " 

‘‘ No ; his servants refused to go to what they 
called a ‘ haunted house.' Mr. de Grey gave 
me quite an amusing description, on the way 
there, of their fears. He attends to his horse 
and helps Uncle Ray cook, and seems to enjoy 
it highly. Some women are hired by the day 
to sweep and clean up, and that sort of thing. 
He and Uncle Ray have taken a great fancy to 
each other ; they get along admirably to- 
gether." 

'' I should think your Uncle Ray would have 
been glad enough to get away after he had sold 
your place." 

“ It was at Mr. de Grey’s urgent request that 
he remained ; they suit each other exactly. 
Mr. de Grey has commenced lessons on the 
violin, or cello, rather, with Uncle Ray. And 
although he studied in Europe, he considers 
Uncle Ray’s method superior to that of the 
great master he was with — as severe, and at the 
same time with a broader comprehension of the 
true art.” 

Then Mr. de Grey is a musician ? " 


1 1 2 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

‘‘ A fine one, Uncle Ray told me. His in- 
strument is the cello, I believe I said so.” 

'' Breta, dear, I have something to say — a 
prophecy to make.” 

'' You quite alarm me, Frank, you are so 
mysterious ; but say on,” said Breta, with a 
laugh. 

‘H am not the seventh daughter of the 
seventh daughter, and I was n’t born with a 
Baxter’s effectual call on my head (I quote 
Lowell, you know), but I always could tell 
things. Mamma has often called me a witch, I 
have told so many things that have come true ; 
I probably have the divine gift of prophecy. 
Well, I feel a presentiment that something is 
going to come out of all this, and you will see 
if my prediction is not verified.” 

“ Something usually comes out of every thing, 
I believe,” returned Breta, laughing ; but what 
is this wonderful thing that is going to come out 
of all this, and what is all this ? ” 

You know what I mean, Breta.” 

'' Indeed, Frank, I have not the least concep- 
tion.” 

'' Does Mr. de Grey,” asked Frank, ‘‘ expect 
to work out, to elucidate, or whatever it is — 


‘‘ Something is going to come out of all this!' 1 1 3 

well, to reduce to a science the comings and 
goings of those — what I heard was, that he is 
a rosicrucian, of sorcerer, or something of that 
sort,'' she added, looking mischievously at 
Breta. 

My dear Frank, I have no sympathy with 
this," said Breta, seriously. “ When the time 
comes for the unseen world to reveal its secrets, 
it will be done without the aid of — " 

Of alembic, crucible, powwows, and all that 
fanfarade of magic," interrupted Frank, with 
one of her heartiest laughs. “ But seriously, 
Breta, if he is in the wrong it is for you to set 
him right. That is your mission in this world 
— to put a head on people. Everybody grows 
better where you are, you are so right and true 
yourself — so earnestly simple and so simply in 
earnest, and — " 

“There, Frank, please stop." 

“ May I observe again that the end of all this 
has not yet come t " asked Frank, with a brill- 
iant smile. 

“ Has the end of any thing come? " 

“ Breta, parry it as you will, it is inevitable ! 
It will end as I predict! Now mark me." And 
Frank gave her head a significant series of 


1 1 4 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

nods, expressing volumes more than her words, 
and which, as they always did, sent lights and 
shadows playing hide-and-seekr in her raven 
hair. 

“ Frank, you are perfectly absurd.'' 

I always was." 

'' And if I did not at first understand you, I 
do of course now. Your seventh daughter 
divination is at fault. Nothing is more unlikely 
than the end you propose. I have other views 
for myself, Frank, and am going to devote my- 
self to doing some good in the world. I will 
tell you my project some day, for I have thought 
a great deal about it of late." 

' The best-laid schemes o' mice and men 
gang aft a-gley.' I will give you just three 
weeks to forget all about your project." 

‘‘ I will give the skies just three weeks to fall 
in," said Breta, laughing, and shaking her wise 
young head. 

Let us go up to the house and get under 
cover. See, the dew is already falling fast — the 
skies may follow," 


VIIL 


ELMWOOD, 



LMWOOD, where, according to repute, 


J j ghosts held high carnival, lay about 

three miles farther down the spring-fed stream 
from that busy hive of yellow-haired and raven- 
haired bees — where Miss Rutherford, a model 
queen-bee, duly rewarded the workers and 
punished the drones. 

Elmwood was, like the seminary, situated on 
a high hill ; — the village of Lea, through which 
wound the road, lying in the valley below, be- 
tween the two sites. 

On the day following, the warm June sun 
shone down on valley and hills, and all things, 
trees and flowers, butterflies and birds, feeling 
its vivifying influence, looked joyous, — all save 
the Cupids and Venuses at Elmwood. They, 
with their freshly washed faces — there had been 
a shower in the night, — were still as aslant and 
melancholy as evex. 


1 1 6 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

Within doors Mr. Whyte with de Grey hav- 
ing just finished on violin and cello a long 
symphony, Mr. Whyte was saying : 

“ Not a squeak yet from a ghost ! It is 
very strange. I should think Sebastian Bach 
might awaken some response from them if only 
to accommodate you, de Grey. If those old 
sorcerers relied on — ” 

“ Reputed sorcerers, Mr. Whyte. In point of 
fact, earnest seekers after divine wisdom,” in- 
terposed de Grey. 

“ If those old magi relied on ghosts, — the 
most unreliable — ” 

“ They relied solely on their own indefati- 
gable labors for their results, and never on the 
viewless powers of the air.” 

“ It is all a myth to me, de Grey, — an oblong 
blur.” 

“ It is certainly very intangible,” returned de 
Grey, laughing. “ Still, the idea of utilizing to 
scientific ends unseen forces, that the workers 
of the world may receive more potent skill— 
that you consider so Utopian, — is, I think, feasi- 
ble, and may be carried out by certain chymical 
processes, experimental, in a place, such as this, 
where these phenomena have transpired.” 


Ehnwood, 


117 


'' Mr. de Grey, I can really say nothing on 
that point — whether it may or may not be 
Utopian, — as I have never given the subject 
any careful investigation. But I was going to 
add that if those old magi did rely on ghosts as 
their backers in pursuit of wisdom, it is no 
wonder that many of them got their heads 
turned and that their wits went wool-gather- 
ing.” 

My dear friend,” replied de Grey, breaking 
out into an irresistible laugh, ‘‘you do not view 
this subject fairly. Go with me to the station, 
it will be on your way to Miss Rutherford s 
(did you not tell me two is your hour there ?) 
and I will give you a few facts that, as you say, 
you have evidently not studied. I must take 
the cars to the city, as I wish to see Black, and 
shall not be back here until to-morrow.” 

And de Grey, as bright and fresh and genial 
as though he possessed no musty hermetic 
parchments above-stairs over which he pored — 
though still with that shade of sadness on his 
face, most visible in the solemn lustre of his 
large, luminous eyes, — commenced his arrange- 
ments for going, by carefully putting away his 
cello in its case. 


1 1 8 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

Mr. Whyte, replacing his violin caressingly in 
its case with still greater care, signified to de 
Grey how pleased he would be to drive him to 
the station, and looking at his time, he opened 
the back of his watch (a handsome repeater), 
asking de Grey if he recognized the face 
within. 

“It is Prince Konigsberg, the great Prussian 
diplomat, is it not ? '' 

“ The same. When he was in Milan he al- 
most lived at my house,'’ returned Mr. Whyte. 
“ He is extravagantly fond of music, especially 
of the violin. I could never play enough for 
him. He sent me this, with the minature 
within," continued Mr. Whyte, with modest 
pride. “ The painting is by a celebrated Ger- 
man artist." 

“ With regard to your violin, Mr. Whyte, 
Konigsberg and I can shake hands," responded 
de Grey. 

On their way to the station, instead of talking 
on the proposed subject, Mr. Whyte, who 
chanced to relate an anecdote of his niece Bre- 
ta’s early life, was led on by de Grey to tell 
another and another ; these characteristic epi- 
sodes of Miss Garnet’s juvenile career, seeming 


Elmwood, 


119 

to interest him more than the hermetic philoso- 
phy that had absorbed so much of his life. 

On one occasion/' continued little Mr. 
Whyte, warming with his subject, I had been 
wavering between two violins selected from 
many, both Cremonas, and I was trying first 
one and then the other, when Breta — she was 
then five years old — in -her child’s way said : 
‘ Uncle Ray, that one sounds just as though you 
had put your pocket-handkerchief over it, and 
this one sounds as though you had taken your 
handkerchief away from it ; I love this one the 
best,' — and the little thing took it in her arms 
and kissed it. I considered her judgment a 
good one, and purchased it at once. I after- 
ward ascertained, by the merest chance, its his- 
tory : It is a genuine Stradivarius, made at Cre- 
mona by Stradivarius the father, — you know 
there were only two makers of that name, 
father and son." 

It is by far the finest-toned instrument I 
ever heard, Mr. Whyte, and does credit to Miss 
Breta's choice. I don't marvel that you value 
it. Can that be my train whistling ? " 

It could be and was the train, and de Grey 
had barely time to '' catch it," as Mr. Whyte de- 


1 20 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

dared, by running at full speed the length of the 
platform, they driving up just as the conductor 
shouted : '' All aboard ! 

Having finished -with his classes, Mr. Whyte 
sent up for Breta to take a drive with him. 

‘‘ I had just finished my last lesson,’' said she, 
as they drove off. ‘‘ It was Frank Bowers’, and 
she sang magnificently. But what a handsome 
horse ! Ah ! I see, it is Mr. de Grey’s Selim. 
He ’s a beauty. But what have you done with 
Flash ? And where ’s Mr. de Grey ? ” 

Flash is in his stable, and de Grey is in 
New York by this time. We will take Flash 
with us when we go to New York, my dear, — 
do you not say so ? ” 

Certainly we will ; Flash is a little darling ; 
we could not get along without him ; He is one 
of us. But, Uncle Ray, I do not intend being 
idle after we get to New York. I have a plan 
of life, and shall be very busy in carrying it out. 
I wish to talk with you about it some time — 
that is, more fully than I have ; you know some- 
thing of it, — ” 

Yes, my dear, and approve of it; and I also 
have a plan, and we will see who can work the 
most indefatigably, you or L And while we 


Elmwood, 


I2I 


are perfecting our plans we can hear all the 
operas and oratorios you have missed so much/' 

“You also, Uncle Ray. I am so glad you 
can live once more, somewhat as you were 
accustomed to,’ without being compelled to 
drudge ; working hard at one’s bent in life 
is n’t drudgery. Fifty thousand dollars is, of 
course, a small sum in comparison to what we 
have lost ; but we can live on it, and there is 
so much to be done in this world, and there 
are so many to help who need help ; — that has 
become my one thought.” 

“For one thing, Breta, I shall take a large 
organ at a high salary ; I have had offers from 
several of the leading churches of late, when 
down in the city. For another thing, I intend 
seeing to the investment of your fifty thousand 
dollars myself, and not let that go with the 
rest ; — I have gained some, wisdom through ad- 
versity.” 

“ I shall hate to leave Miss Rutherford’s, I 
have grown so at home there ; new faces and 
strange places I always dread. But Frank will 
be in New York, you know. Uncle Ray; this is 
her last year. Miss Rutherford’s without Frank 
will be dry enough. Shall you not miss your 


12 2 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

wonderful concerts at Elmwood? Now, Uncle 
Ray, tell me truly, did you not dream all that 
ghost music ? ” 

'‘My dear, am I dreaming now? Tell you 
truly ? well then, truly I am not sure of any thing 
where ghosts are concerned. I would say : 
‘Yes, I dreamed it all,' but others — Mr. Black, 
you know — heard it." 

“ So he said,- and yet for me the house has 
always been as mute as — as any other house." 

“ They have been ill behaved to so slight 
their mistress — that is, if they are, and if any 
thing is." ' 

“Why do you turn in here. Uncle Ray?" 
asked Breta. “ When will Mr. de Grey return ? 
I would not meet him — that is, here for — for 
worlds." 

“ Have no fear, Joslyn de Grey is — " 

“ Joslyn ? That is his name, then ; I — I won- 
dered what it might be. But as I said, I 
would not meet him here at Elmwood, for — " 

“ I assure you, my dear, there is not the 
slightest danger, as de Grey will not be back 
until to-morrow. I have his own words for it. 
I wish to show you some choice old scores that 
I received from Paris to-day. But I will take 


Ebnwood, 


123 


them to the school if you prefer, and we will 
drive on/’ 

“ As there is no chance of Mr. de Grey’s 
coming, let us look at them here,” said Breta, 
conquering her reluctance. 

They were deeply engaged in reading the 
scores, when, in a pause from Mr. Whyte’s violin 
and Breta’s voice, a rumbling of carriage wheels 
was heard. 

“ Bless my soul ! ” exclaimed Mr. Whyte, as 
he looked out of the window. Here ’s a car- 
riage full of ghosts — people I should say ; and 
the head of one is the head of Joslyn de Grey 
to a dead certainty! ” 

“Mr. de Grey!” reiterated Breta, flushing 
scarlet and then turning pale. “ Great heavens! 
Are you sure. Uncle Ray ? ” Breta wished to 
escape, but sat down again as hastily as she 
had risen, almost paralyzed with chagrin. 

“Joslyn de Grey — or his ghost,” returned 
her uncle. “ The lady beside him is elegantly 
attired and very handsome. The young wom- 
an on the front seat is quite plain in features 
and dress. The carriage stops. The elegantly- 
attired lady is making curious signs with her 
fingers to the plain young woman, who is now 


124 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

assisted down by the man that sat next the 
driver, and they are removing boxes from the 
carriage. The driver is taking trunks from the 
rack. The beautiful and elegantly-attired lady 
is coming up on the veranda, followed by de 
Grey and the plain young woman. Should 
they all be ghosts—” 

“ What I fear is, they are not ghosts,” said 
Breta, with energy, her heart half choking her 
with dismay. 

“ I must admit them whatever they are,” re- 
turned her uncle. 

“ Mr. Whyte, my sister Selma,” pronounced 
de Grey’s rich, full voice. Breta heard it from 
the room where she was sitting and turned still 
paler. “ I met her at the station below Lea 
and so returned with her. Go in, Selma, with 
Mr. Whyte, while I see to your baggage.” 

Miss de Grey, on her way through the wide 
hall, was telling Mr. Whyte that she had come 
to keep house for her brother while he pursued 
his studies. 

“ Very kind of you. Miss de Grey. Your 
brother will appreciate your goodness ; he 
speaks of you frequently, and I feel myself 
quite acquainted with you. You will find the 


Elmwood, 


125 


house pretty lively at times, I assure you '' 
said Mr. Whyte. 

‘‘ I understand all about that, Mr. Whyte, but 
that cannot deter me, where I can be of assist- 
ance to Joslyn,'' affirmed Selma, enthusiastically, 
as, with an unaffected naturalness of manner, 
she entered the room where, pale to whiteness, 
and silent to immobility, Breta was now stand- 
ing proud and erect, wishing herself miles away. 
Miss de Grey looked at Breta with slightly 
dilated eyes, as though she might be one of 
the shadows of the house in wait to receive 
her. 

My niece. Miss Garnet,” said Mr. Whyte ; 
“ Breta, it is Mr. de Grey s sister, my dear.” 

Advancing with extended hand, her violet 
eyes beaming and quite restored to their 
natural size, Selma greeted Breta with effu- 
sion, kissing her on both cheeks. 

“ I am afraid Joslyn might have fared ill there 
in the woods,” said she in a caressing tone that 
was irresistible, “had it not been for your 
timely assistance, my dear. He told me on 
the way here. I cannot thank you enough. 
We must be the best of friends.” 

Breta's equanimity returning with Miss de 


126 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

Grey’s warmth of manner, they seated them- 
selves in the chairs Mr. Whyte, in his roseate 
way, offered them. 

‘‘ I see. Miss Garnet,” said Selma, ‘‘ you are 
looking at Judith. Having made up my mind 
to come, I did not rest until I had hunted up 
Judith and her husband, whose great recom- 
mendation is — they are deaf and dumb.” 

'‘That — their being deaf — my uncle will tell 
you. Miss de Grey, will be a great blessing in 
this house,” replied Breta, laughing, " on ac- 
count of — ” 

" Of the strange noises,” caught up Selma, 
quite seriously. " I could not endure the 
thought that Mr. Whyte and Joslyn were hav- 
ing to perform manual labor. Mr. Black told 
me no servant would stay in the house, and I 
think my deaf and dumb ones will prove invalu- 
able.” 

As Selma spoke, de Grey entered the room, 
the dreamy warmth of his eyes lighting into a 
look of joyful recognition as his glance fell upon 
Breta. But he greeted her with a manner so 
free from surprise at finding her there, that 
again she blessed him in her heart for his per- 
fect good-breeding. 


Elmwood, 


127 


I am afraid, Selma,” said he, laying his 
hand on her shoulder with brotherly fondness, 
as he stood up before her, “you will find the 
rooms too damp to sleep in without a day's 
sunshine to air them. Had I only known — ” 

“That is just what I intended to avoid, Jos- 
lyn,” replied she, in her caressing tone. “ Let 
us make a tour up stairs. Will you go, my 
dear ? ” and Miss de Grey put her arm lovingly 
around Breta's slender waist, and thus together 
they ascended the great oaken staircase ; fol- 
lowed by Mr. Whyte, de Grey, and Judith, to 
whom Miss de Grey beckoned. 

Windows were opened, and Selma could not 
sufficiently admire the massive, old-time furni- 
ture the light revealed. Great oaken chests 
of linen and presses of blankets and curtains 
received attention, and Selma declared that the 
rooms were not only delightful but in perfect 
order. . 

Mr. Whyte confessed to having had work- 
people from time to time brushing and clean- 
ing ; “ always by the day, not one would stay 
over night,” said he with his twisted smile, 
“ but as the mansion is built of stone, and 
thoroughly well finished throughout with the 


128 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

best material, and is well guarded by locks, 
bars, and bolts, it has suffered but little in the 
interior. It is the exterior, as I explained to 
Mr. Black, that shows the effects of time and 
mischievous boys.’' 

During the investigation and the choice of 
her rooms by Selma, so many bright remarks 
were elicited that it seemed quite like an enter- 
tainment gotten up purposely. 

When they returned below stairs, Judith was 
installed in the great kitchen, where her hus- 
band had built a roaring fire in the huge old- 
fashioned fireplace, before which the linen was 
to be aired, and at which Judith was to cook a 
substantial repast of viands Miss de Grey had 
taken the precaution to bring with her in cer- 
tain covered baskets. 

‘‘ But where are your strange noises, my 
dear Breta; I hear none.” Miss de Grey had 
already dropped the Miss in Breta’s favor, mak- 
ing much of her, as a lady of twenty-seven or 
eight may a valued friend much younger. 

Breta has never heard them. Miss de 
Grey,” said Mr. Whyte. ‘‘ She considers them 
merely dreams.” 

''Uncle Ray will tell you where he keeps 


Elmwood, 


129 


these — dreams, Miss de Grey,” returned Breta, 
adding : '' I was wishing an hour or so ago that 
I v/as of the stuff of which dreams are made.” 

What, when v/e came, my dear Breta ? ” 
asked Selma. 

‘'Just imagine. Miss de Grey: I being in- 
veigled here with the bait of old music scores 
just from Paris, and under the solemn seal of 
assurance that the present owner of the house 
would not and could not be back here until to- 
morrow, — just imagine my alarm when the car- 
riage drove up. containing — 

“Is the present owner of the house,, then, 
such a very alarming .person. Miss Garnet?” 
asked de Grey, laughing. 

“ Very alarming, — on his own grounds,” said 
Breta. 

“ Oh, Joslyn is not at all dangerous, I assure 
you, my dear Breta,” insisted Selma, with a laugh, 
“ and then just think,” continued she in her 
gracious, confiding way, “ how much pleasure 
it has given me to have you here this afternoon. 
And I have a great request to make of you : 
That you should come and stay here with me, 
right along. Will you ? ” 

De Grey, who had been attentively listening, 
looked intently at Breta, awaiting her reply. 


1 30 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

'‘It would give me great pleasure, I assure 
you, Miss de Grey, but I am under engagement 
to Miss Rutherford for another month/' 

"But if I should send Miss Rutherford some 
one to fill your place ? " 

" Oh ! I could not disappoint Miss Ruther- 
ford," returned Breta. 

" I see I shall have to be content to come for 
you in your leisure time, for which I shall 
plead," said Selma, in a winning tone of appeal. 

While she was speaking a summons came to 
dinner, and a more delightful meal was never 
discussed in any house and by more delightful 
people than that served in the great dining- 
room of the haunted house of Elmwood. 

After the repast was over, Breta volunteering, 
she and Selma went up stairs, and, assisted by 
Judith, Selma’s sleeping and dressing-rooms 
were made bright with curtains, draperies, and 
all the little elegancies and delicate toys for 
mantel, toilette, bracket, and stand, that make 
daintily appointed rooms so charming. 

It was nine o’clock when Mr. Whyte drove 
back to the school with Breta, and on the way 
he told her how delighted he was that Miss de 
Grey had come, and what a superior woman he 


Elmwood, 


131 

thought her. In some respects quite like her 
brother,” said he. And I consider Joslyn de 
Grey as grand as Rossini s Stabat Mater, or 
one of Beethoven’s symphonies. He is as har- 
monious as Gluck’s Orpheus, and the Oiphee 
laughs all through it with inspired harmony. 
He is altogether too fine to be given up to — 
to ghosts,” concluded little Mr. Whyte, with a 
snap of his whip that startled Flash as though 
one of the apparitions alluded to had risen up 
before him. 

Breta found Miss Rutherford in the recep- 
tion-room with seme of the older pupils and 
teachers listening to Miss Bowers, who was 
then singing Cherubini’s Ave Maria. 

“ I must say. Miss Garnet, that Miss Bowers 
does you great credit. Her voice has been 
mellowed and improved under your admirable 
method, until it is a great pleasure to hear her 
sing. I suppose you have been hard at work 
trying over those old scores of which your 
uncle spoke to me.” 

‘‘We tried over some of them. Miss Ruther- 
ford,” returned Breta. “ The septette in D mi- 
nor of Johan Nepomuck Hummel’s, for one, with 
its fine third movement — a brilliant scherzo. 


132 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

But we were interrupted,” and Breta related 
the incidents of the afternoon and evening. 

Miss Rutherford, saying it was very kind 
and thoughtful of Miss de Grey in coming to 
keep house for her brother, astonished Breta 
by asking, as a favor, would she accompany 
her to Elmwood immediately after breakfast in 
the morning. 

“ It is necessary that due attention should be 
shown Miss de Grey,” said Miss Rutherford. 
“ I can manage your lessons, my dear Miss 
Garnet. I shall have baskets of fruit and other 
edibles prepared to take in the carriage with 
us, as Miss de Grey will find some difficulty in 
procuring such things until she gets somewhat 
acquainted with our markets here. Miss de 
Grey stands high in New York — the whole de 
Grey family do, in fact. When I found Mr. 
Joslyn de Grey had purchased your place and 
was coming among us, I took pains to ascertain 
who he was, but finding all so unexceptionable, 
I deem it incumbent upon me to make Miss de 
Grey feel that she has come among friends. 
Young Mr. de Grey is, I hear, inclined to be 
somewhat visionary, but bears a character with- 
out a flaw.” 


Elmwood, 


133 


How Miss Rutherford obtained all her infor- 
mation about the de Greys she did not tell, but 
Frank Bowers said in a characteristic aside to 
Breta, on their way up to the dormitories, that 
Miss Rutherford had received such a raft of let- 
ters that morning, the postman had to employ 
a little boy to help him carry them. 

“ And let me tell you, Breta, Miss Ruther- 
ford has her own schemes for you. You are 
the apple of her eye ; and she is resolved to 
make love while the de Greys shine.” 

The carriage was at the door promptly after 
breakfast the next morning ; and Miss Ruther- 
ford, with a basket of choice strawberries in her 
hand, made room for Breta beside her, — the 
coachman having charge of another large basket 
in which were some of her cook’s famous apple- 
pies and other dainties. 

Miss de Grey must be some punkins, to 
make Miss Rutherford spread herself so exten- 
sively,” remarked Frank, who was waving her 
handkerchief to Breta from the veranda, as the 
carriage drove off. ‘'Miss Rutherford would 
not have had that lemon meringue made and 
put in the basket for a nobody.” 

“ You had better turn French cook and done 


134 


The Benefit of the Doubt. 


with it, Frank Bowers,” said Pella. “ So far as 
language is concerned you would have nothing 
to learn. ' Some punkins,’ how excessively 
vulgar ! ” 

“ Oh, yes, Pella,” retorted Frank, “ I should 
have to learn to say it in French. Punkins, 
citrouille, feminine gender. But, de la citrouille 
would not express the American idiom. And 
then I should have to wear a long white apron 
and a paper cap. Thanking you for the sug- 
gestion, on the whole I think I ’ll not turn 
French cook.” 

“ Pella and Frank, stop your fighting and go 
to quarrelling, but first listen to some news,” 
said Sadie Burrill, who had just joined the 
others on the veranda. 

“ Well? ” snapped Pella. 

“ Only this : Miss Amanda — ” 

‘‘ Miss High-manda, Sadie, Miss High-man- 
da,” interrupted Frank, with a mocking gri- 
mace. 

Be still, Frank, and let me tell,” said Sadie, 
laughing. 

A young lady of nineteen, and so rude ! ” 
sneered Pella. 

Nineteen or ninety, I leave it to every one 


Elmwood. 


135 

if I am not right. Miss High-manda is full as 
tall as her sister — two regular Lombardy pop- 
lars.” 

‘‘ Do go on, Sadie, and don’t mind Frank and 
her poplars,” urged Pella. “ What did Miss 
Amanda say ? ” 

That the picnic is to be put off till this day 
week,” said the laughing Sadie ; and it is to 
be a grand affair. Miss de Grey and her broth- 
er are invited — ” 

“ Her brother! ” ejaculated Pella. “ Why, he 
is a young gentleman. He ’ll be sure to devour 
some of us. We ’re not even to see a young 
gentleman, for fear of having our morals cor- 
rupted, but are to be kept in hermetically sealed 
school-rooms, and — ” 

“Well, Mr. de Grey is an hermetic philoso- 
pher ; I heard Miss Rutherford say so,” inter- 
rupted Frank, with a laugh. 

“ I am sure, Pella, Miss Rutherford is very 
much more lenient in that respect than the prin- 
cipals of most boarding-schools,” said Sadie, 
pleasantly. “ She thinks society helps form our 
manners, you know ; and she is constantly in- 
viting young ladies and their brothers and their 
gentlemen friends, with the heads of their 


136 


The Benefit of the DoubL 


families, to all our musicales, and our readings^ 
and conversazioni — ’’ 

“ Do let Pella growl, Sadie,” said Frank. 

How long since you have taken up the cud- 
gels of defence in behalf of Miss Rutherford, 
Sadie Burrill ? ” demanded Pella, scornfully, 
.ignoring Frank's remark. 

Do hear Pella talk slang ! ” exclaimed 
Frank. '' ' Cudgels of defence ! ' Quite as hor- 
rible as ' some punkins ' ! But come, Sadie, 
never mind the young gentlemen and our mor- 
als, what else did Miss Highmanda say ? ” 

“ Besides the elite of Lea — the Judge Wal- 
tons, the General Leightons, and so on (the de 
Greys, of course), — your brother, Frank, and 
yours, Pella — ” 

'' brother,” snapped Pella, '' is in Europe.” 

And mine has just returned from Europe,” 
said Frank. Tom will come, for I shall write 
to him myself, and that will bring him. It will 
be awfully jolly. I shall wear my new navy- 
blue flannel, with cardinal bows and no jewelry. 
There is nothing so out of taste as jewelry on a 
picnic. Mamma says so, and she knows.” 

‘‘ You are so very dark, Frank, that navy- 
blue and cardinal are the only colors you really 


Elmwood, 


137 


can wear. I shall dress in white, with Marie 
Louise blue bows, and as much jewelry as I 
choose, — out of taste indeed! Your mamma, 
forsooth ! — and I shall crimp my hair and wear 
it down my — ” 

'' Frank looks handsome in any thing, Pella,'’ 
interrupted Sadie, “ and handsomest of all in 
white. She will not be compelled to waste time 
in crimping her hair, as it waves so beautifully 
naturally.” 

Which, as you well know, Sadie,” returned 
Pella, triumphantly, is indicative of a terrible 
temper.” 

'' Le vrai n 'est pas toujours vraisemblablel' 
mocked Frank, laughing, as with an arm around 
Sadie’s waist she accompanied her to the school- 
room, the bell for the morning classes loudly 
ringing. 


IX. 

MY QUEEN, OR NOT MY QUEEN. 

M ISS DE GREY and her brother, with 
little Mr. Whyte, were sitting out on 
the veranda at Elmwood as the carriage con- 
taining Miss Rutherford and Breta drove up. 
As de Grey looked up his face became suddenly 
illuminated ; he rose hastily to assist them from 
the carriage, his eyes, as he went forward, meet- 
ing Breta’s in a quick telegraphic signal, so inex- 
plicable, so unnoticed by others, and yet so full 
of import to the owners of the two pairs of eyes 
thus meeting. 

It was Breta, de Grey helped down first, she 
being nearest, and then Miss Rutherford, who, 
good lady, saw nothing, having eyes only to the 
safety of her baskets. 

Selma welcomed Breta warmly with a kiss on 
either cheek, and won Miss Rutherford’s favor- 
able opinion by her admirable finish of manner. 

138 


My Queen^ or Not My Quee^i. 139 

They were all seated on the veranda, as being 
pleasanter that warm June morning than the 
drawing-room; and Selma was interrupted in 
something she was saying to Miss Rutherford 
by two women with scrubbing brushes and 
pails, who came to ask her questions about their 
work, and were referred to Judith. 

'' They are all very willing to come during 
the daylight it seems,” Selma explained, “ and 
my deaf-and-dumb Judith writes her orders to 
them on the slate. Nothing makes any differ- 
ence, it appears, with the unseen residents of 
the house how many visible people are at work 
in it. I feared at first that the work-people 
might interfere with brother Joslyn’s projects, 
until Mr. Whyte assured me to the contrary.” 

“ Nothing has ever made any difference,” re- 
turned Mr. Whyte, with his twisted smile. 
“They — the unseen residents, as you call them 
— come and go at their own sweet will — that is, 
if their will can be said to be sweet. It has 
been amusing to see those I employed take 
fright and rush from the house like deer. 
Once, when two women were at work cleaning, 
we had a merry time. Said one : ' I can stand 
it, Lize, as long as you kin. It ’s only a little 
talking and noise, and that don’t hurt nobody.’ 


140 The Beiiefit of the Doubt. 

'' ' It s only jest some pesky boys the little gen- 
tleman hires to frighten folks. I ain’t afeard.’ 

'' ^ Jest you stick to that, Lize, like grim death ; 
noise ain’t nothin.’ 

An Indian war-whoop sounding through the 
house just then cut off the reply of ' Lize,’ and 
they both rushed down stairs and past me (I 
was out here noting music), looking like two 
hunted, wild animals. They came again the 
next day though, brave as sheep, and hearing 
nothing, they went home before dark, feeling, 
as they said, so ‘ pop-sure ’ that some ‘ dratted 
boys ’ were hidden up stairs, that I found my- 
self quite imbued with their idea.” 

Miss Rutherford spoke long and learnedly 
about the just-discovered telephone. As she 
concluded, de Grey had an admirable oppor- 
tunity to enlarge upon his own peculiar views, 
had he chosen to embrace it. But he was so 
manifestly occupied, eyes, thought, and speech, 
ostensibly in showing Breta some curios , — 
exquisite Japanese carvings, — that he seemed 
more inclined to embrace her than the oppor- 
tunity to explain to Miss Rutherford. 

The carvings were a set of boxes within 
boxes that he had taken from the window-sill, 


My Queen, or Not My Queen, 141 

where other Japanese bric-a-brac were lying 
partly unpacked, and were so intricate and deli- 
cate in workmanship it seemed as though hu- 
man hands could not have fashioned them. 

Talking to Breta in low tones that would not 
disturb the conversation of the others, his words 
contained the simple description only of how he 
came across them when in Yokohama. But as 
it is how words are uttered that furnishes the 
subtle indication of the feeling lying back of 
them, so every word of de Grey’s that morning 
revealed to Breta the interest, the intense inter- 
est, he felt in her. 

Another of Miss de Grey’s women wishing 
her presence, in her placid, pleasant manner 
she asked Miss Rutherford if she would not 
like to see her rooms. 

‘‘ It is just what I wished to propose,” replied 
Miss Rutherford, as I have never seen the 
mysterious interior of Elmwood.” 

Miss Rutherford admired the spacious, airy 
apartments with their large oriel windows, and 
with Miss de Grey as cicerone went all through 
the house ; the immense and gorgeously ap- 
pointed drawing-rooms, library, and dining- 
rooms especially meeting her approval. 


142 The Benefit of the Doubt 

While they were gone, de Grey made the 
most of his time, continuing his conversation 
with Breta, little Mr. Whyte occasionally drop- 
ping a quaintly pertinent remark. But Mr. 
Whyte’s presence seemed no check to either ; 
on the contrary, innocent and fresh himself, up 
in all topics of interest, and unobtrusive and as- 
similative in nature, he gave Breta more con- 
fidence ; and she sustained her part of the con- 
versation with a brightness and originality that 
charmed de Grey more and more. 

It is quite a matter of wonder how much can 
be said and lived in a short time. When the 
ladies returned, it seemed to Breta they had 
been gone for hours, she felt herself so fully re- 
vealed, and so entirely understood, and she 
admired so greatly the character that had re- 
vealed itself to her. 

Miss Rutherford introducing the picnic, Sel- 
ma de Grey took it up warmly, wishing to share 
the trouble and expense. Let me see to the 
ices and fruits. I will send to New York for 
them,” said she. “ Where are the grounds ? ” 

“ At Rocky Glen, a spot about three miles 
from the village. We are to be there quite 
early, at eight o’clock — on the children’s ac- 


My Queen, or Not My Queen, 143 

count, — to start at seven from the seminary, 
and the day is one week from to-day.” 

The railroad passes by it, does it not.^ ” 
asked de Grey. 

‘‘ The railroad runs by the spot at a little dis- 
tance, but does not mar its attractiveness, rocks 
and dense foliage screening it — it is one of the 
most secluded places imaginable.” 

I was riding through it this morning,” ob- 
served de Grey ; “ as picturesque a spot as I re- 
member ever to have seen ; reminding me of 
the forest-nooks in Germany.” 

Miss Rutherford incited de Grey to giving 
some descriptions of German scenery ; and then, 
rising to go, her coachman, who had been 
wandering around the grounds and had just re- 
turned, handed down the baskets at her re- 
quest ; she concluding her apology for bringing 
the trifles, by saying : I knew. Miss de Grey, 
you must be in more or less confusion for a day 
or so.” 

“ Do not apologize. Miss Rutherford, for so 
acceptable and opportune a gift,” responded de 
Grey ; Selma has just been lamenting that she 
could not provide a better dinner for us than 
she confesses we are to have to-day.” 


144 * 'The Benefit ofi the Doubt. 

“ It is so new to me here as yet ; and, be as 
philosophic as gentlemen may, I have never 
found them objecting to a good dinner,’' said 
Selma, with a bright laugh. 

As de Grey assisted Miss Rutherford and 
Breta back into the carriage. Miss Rutherford 
handed Selma the addresses of the best bakers, 
butchers, and grocers in Lea, and the carriage 
drove off ; Breta carrying back to the school 
with her a last look from de Grey’s dark eyes 
that made the little commonplaces of Miss 
Rutherford difficult to follow, although she re-» 
lated in choice language the traditionary legend 
connected with Rocky Glen. 

From that time de Grey caused it so to 
chance that he passed some part of each day in 
Breta’s presence. The programme was a drive 
every afternoon, — his carriage and fine span of 
horses he having had sent to him from the city, 
— and inviting his sister to accompany him, and 
suggesting to her the expediency of calling for 
Miss Garnet on their way — Selma’s sudden 
fondness for Breta deepening with each sight 
of her, — all worked harmoniously. 

On the afternoon of Thursday Miss Ruther- 
ford accompanied them, and on Friday after- 


My Queen, or Not My Queen, 145 

noon the de Greys, having called somewhat ear- 
lier, heard the conclusion of Frank s singing 
lesson ; the other pianos of the school being oc- 
cupied with practising pupils, Breta was hearing 
her in the parlor. 

Selma, much struck with Frank’s voice and 
method, spoke of it when she had concluded 
her lesson ; she had been singing quite effec- 
tively, Mozart’s Agnus Dei in Mass C. 

'' Due entirely to Miss Garnet, I assure you. 
Miss de Grey, for I sang like a hoot-owl four 
years ago. She, — Miss Garnet, — had a time of 
it in making me understand the difference be- 
tween pure tones and guttural tones, for I sang all 
in my throat. I scarcely knew I had a larynx, 
let alone that I must not permit the air column 
from the lungs to remain in the larynx, forcing 
those hideous, howling tones that are so excruci- 
atingly horrid. I had an awful time in learn- 
ing how to take my tones above, instead of be- 
low the glottis, with the glottis-stroke. And as 
for my tongue, — all I knew was how to gabble 
with it ; and to learn that it must lie easily and 
naturally on the floor of my mouth, with the tip 
just touching my front teeth (and not to curl up 
into a spoon, as I made it), was preposterous to 


146 The Benefit ofi the Doubt. 

me then. You see, Miss de Grey, I was never 
one of those fortunate ones who groove into the 
right way by instinct ; the wrong way is so 
much easier and pleasanter, at least for one’s 
self. Other people’s ears used to be fearfully 
scorched by my singing, I being the only one 
who thoroughly enjoyed it.” 

Miss Bowers said this in her off-hand way, 
leaving Selma, as she left every one, in 
doubt if she were fully in earnest, but never in 
doubt whether or not to laugh — for the laugh 
she evoked when she so wished was always in- 
evitable. 

‘‘ Then I am to infer you regret your present 
finished style of singing ? ” asked Selma. 

Miss de Grey, I never nursed a dear ga- 
zelle, but I nursed a dear monkey once; that 
papa brought me from Brazil. That monkey 
was like my voice at that time, making no one 
'glad’ but myself. Now that with infinite 
nursing I have acquired a decent method, why, 
of course, I value it. But it was the labor, you 
see, — I detesting work.” 

" Miss Bowers, I wish you would accompany 
us in our drive this afternoon, and we will discuss 
the labor question,” proposed Selma, smiling. 


My Queen, or Not My Queen, 147 

Frank declined the invitation, thanking Selma 
in so lady-like a way as showed she could be 
exceedingly well bred on occasion. 

'' I see, Miss Garnet,” said de Grey, who had 
been turning over music, '' you go to the foun- 
tain source. Do you bring up all your pupils 
on Mozart, Cherubini, Rossini, Gluck, Handel, 
and the great masters I find here ? ” 

Always when I can, and when I cannot I 
descend to lesser masters,” said Breta, with a 
laugh, adding : “ But if you have an idea of 
entering as a pupil, Mr. de Grey, I will promise 
not to teach you any thing but the most severely 
classical — ” 

“ You will do well to avail yourself of Miss 
Garnet’s instruction,” said Frank in a meaning 
way that caused a laugh. 

‘‘ If I thought Miss Rutherford would take 
me,” hesitated de Grey. “ But I am afraid I 
should be like the rest. Miss Garnet, and stipu- 
late for an occasional ‘ tune,’ Blumenthal’s 
‘ My Queen ’ for one.” 

“ I doubt if Breta would give it to you, Mr. 
de Grey ; she has a way of having her own will, 
and so easily that you knock under, — that is, I 
mean, of course (and Frank laughed at her own 


148 The Benefit of the DoubL 

expense), you are converted to her views before 
you know it. I used to rebel against those 
poky old masses of the old masters, until at 
last I fairly learned to love them. I was a very 
troublesome pupil, and Breta being no older 
than myself — but a century in advance of me in 
acquirement — had, as I said, a time of it in 
forming my taste. I hope you won’t be so re- 
bellious a pupil.” 

I was always noted for docility, was I not, 
Selma ? ” said de Grey. 

‘'Always, Joslyn ; docilly determined to 
carry your point, and in such a thoroughly 
docile way I always found you always gained 
it,” replied Selma, with a loving smile. 

“ So I should judge,” added Breta, with a 
quick, responsive laugh. “ Mr. de Grey seems 
to me one more than usually firm of pur- 
pose, one who would literally go through fire for 
a sufficient object, and — ” 

“ And — pray proceed. Miss Garnet,” urged 
de Grey, smiling down with a steady look into 
Breta’s eyes ; the very steadiness of his look 
and the position of his head, that brought out 
the firm lines of his mouth and chin, proving 
the correctness of the assertion. 


My Queen, or Not My Queen, \\g 

But Breta ventured no more, and Frank ex- 
claimed : 

‘‘ That being conceded, Mr. de Grey, it will 
be ‘ My Queen’ or not ‘ My Queen’ ; and who 
yields the point time will show.” 

Pardon my curiosity. Miss Bowers,” said 
de Grey in his quietest manner, ignoring the 
point Frank had just made with so much ap- 
parent innocence. “ But on the stairs, as we 
came in, we encountered a young lady with a 
Greek face, and a profusion of golden-red hair. 
In features, like the picture on exhibition, of 
Garafelia Mohalbi, who, it is said, was bought 
out of Turkish persecution and adopted as his 
own daughter by a Boston gentleman, some 
years ago.” 

'' Her name is Pella Morton ; she is con- 
sidered remarkably handsome,” replied Frank. 

So I should suppose,” assented de Grey. 
But although his words assented, his tone im- 
plied a mental reservation that did not escape 
the observation of either Frank or Breta. 

Joslyn,” said Selma, tapping her brother’s 
arm lightly with her fan, “ we might chat here 
all the afternoon, and be delightfully enter- 
tained. Do join with me in prevailing on Miss 


1 5o The Benefit of the Doubt, 

Bowers to accompany us, that we may continue 
our pleasant talk in the carriage/' 

It has been hinted that I get my own way, 
Miss Bowers,” urged de Grey, turning from 
Breta toward Frank. '' Now my will is that 
you accept Selma’s invitation, and if Miss Gar- 
net, who always has her own will, would kindly 
join me in urging, you certainly must comply.” 

Selma, who, in her gentle, easy way, having 
risen to go, and was standing beside Breta, and 
petting her pretty brown hair with her fair, soft 
hand, looked with a pleasant smile from one to 
another. 

You make me ashamed of my refusal,” re- 
lented Frank. 

“ I knew you could not find it in your heart 
to persevere in it,” declared Breta. 

“ It will be delightful, and I shall be delighted 
with the drive of course, and — . But,” faltered 
Frank, I did not like to feel I owed my invita- 
tion just to the chance of Miss de Grey’s hap- 
pening on me in the parlor. I will ask Miss 
Rutherford’s permission.” 

The permission gained, Frank appeared with 
Breta, both hatted and gloved. 

The drive proved a pleasant one, and as they 


My Qtieen, or Not My Queen. i5i 

were returning, a horseman, overtaking the car- 
riage and recognizing its inmates, wheeled his 
horse around and discovered to them the hand- 
some features of Noel Dunraven. 

The whole manoeuvre could not have been 
surpassed in elegance, and Dunraven never 
showed to better advantage. He was dressed 
in full riding costume, his abundant waving 
blonde hair mingling artistically with his blonde 
beard. And, mounted on a fine spirited horse of 
the largest size and most perfect proportions, he 
himself of the largest size and most perfect pro- 
portions, horse and man looked as though made 
expressly each for the other. He rode, not in the 
modern English style of rising in the stirrups, 
but in the old Grecian method of horsemanship, 
having achieved by much practice that method 
as most in accordance with his conception of the 
needs of the Renaissance. Like the old Gre- 
cian warriors, who might have been Centaurs, so 
a part of their horses did they seem, he rode as 
though all his life he might have dined, supped, 
breakfasted, and slept in his saddle. 

“ An uncommonly fine rider,” commented 
Selma, as Dunraven, with a sweeping bow, hat 
in hand, passed om ‘‘ Brother Joslyn and Ben- 


1 5 2 The Benefit ofi the Dotibt. 

jamin — Mn Black — I have always been proud 
of as good horsemen, but this gentleman’s rid- 
ing can only be called the perfection of eques- 
trian grace. Pray who is he ?” 

'' He is my cousin, Noel Dunraven,” replied 
Breta, quietly. But though she spoke with so 
little emotion, a shadow had crossed the bright- 
ness of her face and left her eyes with a troub- 
led look in them. 

De Grey lapsed into almost utter silence, 
making only an occasional abstracted remark ; 
the absorbed expression of his face, paler than 
its wont, deepening as they proceeded. The 
conversation was carried on quite briskly by 
Selma and Frank; de Grey’s reticence and 
Breta’s far-off look and manner passing unno- 
ticed. 

On arriving at the seminary, they found Noel 
Dunraven sitting on the veranda in conversa- 
tion with Miss Rutherford. He came forward 
with the proportions of Hercules and the grace 
of the Jeune Apollo toward the carriage, — de 
Grey having just assisted the ladies to alight, — 
and walked up the veranda steps by the side of 
Breta, leaving de Grey to follow with Frank. 

Miss de Grey, who had preceded the others. 


My Queen, or Not My Queen. 163 

was asking of Miss Rutherford the pleasure of 
Breta’s company, with that of Frank, for the 
day on the morrow, it being Saturday, the usual 
school holiday. 

'' It is very kind of you. Miss de Grey,” re- 
plied Miss Rutherford, suavely. “ I am delight- 
ed that the young ladies should have so pleas- 
ant a change from the monotony of school life.” 

Being introduced to Dunraven by Breta, Miss 
de Grey, always bent on making every one 
happy, included him also in her invitation. 

You do not come any more to Elmwood, 
Mr. Dunraven ; I find your uncle misses you. 
Pray do not let my being there frighten you 
off ; I am not at all a formidable person, I as- 
sure you. Shall we not expect you to-mor- 
row ? ” 

With a gratefully graceful acknowledgment 
of Miss de Grey’s kindness, Dunraven, regret- 
ting a prior engagement in New York for the 
morning, expressed himself as being only too 
happy to avail himself of her invitation, and 
would certainly be at Elmwood late in the after- 
noon. 

The trouble had not left Breta’s eyes. She 
was standing beside de Grey, and they were 


1 54 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

interchanging a few commonplace remarks, 
when, on a motion to go, from his sister, his 
eyes meeting those of Breta, a whole volume 
of unspoken words were uttered by both in one 
of those sudden mutual glances that come into 
eyes perhaps once in a lifetime. 

And de Grey conducted his sister to the car- 
riage, she telling Miss Rutherford that she 
should send for the young ladies quite early in 
the morning. 

As they drove off, Dunraven, in an exquisite- 
ly picturesque attitude, was bending his tall 
form over Breta, saying something in which he 
was apparently much interested. 

It would really be worth while,” observed 
Selma to her brother, to make a study of this 
new aesthetic cult — new and old, that is — if 
one could realize the ideal in — in external grace, 
the perfect rhythm of movement that Mr. Dun- 
raven has achieved. His dress and manners 
are a living protest against the incongruousness, 
the almost total lack of this age in good taste, 
in favor of the lost beautiful of the old Renais- 
sance.” 

“ Yes, without doubt,” acquiesced de Grey, 
absently. Recalling his wandering thoughts 


My Queetiy or Not My Queen, i55 

from Breta’s last look, so significant, to a 
sense of his sister’s remark, he qualified his 
assent: ‘‘That is, if the — external grace, the — 
rhythm of movement, and that,” said he, with a 
touch of burlesque in his tone, “ be not in ex- 
cess of the lost beautiful so cherished by the 
masters of those mediaeval and old Greek 
times ; which, by the way, always found its 
choicest expression in the simply natural.” 

“ Oh, it is the simply natural you wish,” re- 
turned Selma, laughing. “You have only to go 
to our farm-houses, where people (of sterling 
worth certainly) cultivate corn rather than clas- 
sical costumes, and potatoes rather than poetic 
postures. Still, although there can be no genu- 
ine expression of beauty that does not emanate 
from faith in nature and earnest seeking after 
the real, the true, yet the very effort to train 
the imagination in the outward requirements of 
this ideal, must raise the standard of moral ex- 
cellence.” 

“You always were wonderfully logical, Sel- 
ma. But I suppose now, although j^our dress 
and manners are simply perfect, a model for 
the rising generation of young ladies, we may 
expect to see you in Boticellian costume and 


1 56 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

stained-glass attitudes, with a choice bouquet 
of sun-flowers on your breast, and — ” 

“Certainly,” interrupted Selma, laughing, “ I 
always was an extremist, you knov/. But you 
must admit that Mr. Dunraven has nothing 
about him of the extreme of that fashionable 
ultra-aestheticism. He does not belong to the 
sun-flower school ; he 's neither Boticellian in 
dress nor stained glass in attitude.” 

“ I admit,” conceded de Grey, looking down 
into his sister’s face with a peculiar smile, 
“ Mr. Dunraven is all you say. He is highly 
cultured, remarkably handsome and well dressed 
— perhaps a little too well dressed. He should 
receive the title of Admirable the second, suc- 
cessor to Crichton.” 

“ How unlike you, Joslyn, — you always so 
free from unreasonable prejudices. You have 
taken a most unaccountable dislike to poor Mr. 
Dunraven. I cannot understand it,” said Sel- 
ma, with much simplicity, regarding her brother 
wonderingly. 

De Grey paid great attention to the paces of 
the high-stepping horses he was driving for a 
moment, bearing the scrutiny of his sister’s 
eyes without change of muscle. 


My Queen, or Not My Queen, 167 

‘‘ I shall look well into this, Selma,” said he, 
seriously. “An unreasonable prejudice is the 
poorest investment in the world.” 

“ He being Mr. Whyte s nephew too, you 
know,” deprecatingly continued she. “We 
shall see a great deal of him of course. He 
comes to-morrow, in the latter part of the day. 
It will be so pleasant for Breta to meet him at 
the old place. You know they are not really 
cousins, although they were almost brought up 
together, Mr. Whyte thinking so much of his 
wife’s sister’s son.” 

“ I see,” said de Grey, assenting to his sis- 
ter’s plans for making it pleasant for her guests, 
and listening to her responsively as she still 
continued the fruitful theme — possibly as a self- 
imposed penance for his “ unreasonable preju- 
dices.” 


X. 


A STRATEGIC ARRANGEMENT.- 



URING the day at Elmwood, Frank, de- 


I J veloping remarkable strategic powers, 
contrived to leave Breta and de Grey alone to- 
gether several times, manoeuvring with such tact 
that not even Breta suspected her design. In 
this Frank took the heroic pride of a martyr, 
immolating on the shrine of friendship that 
which her self-seeking instincts would have 
prompted, and without the satisfaction of re- 
ceiving any credit for her sacrifice. 

They had all taken a long drive in the morn- 
ing, exploring new and wild regions, little Mr. 
Whyte accompanying them ; and after return- 
ing, Frank, becoming suddenly interested in 
some music scores, induced Selma, ever ready 
for Mr. Whyte’s violin, to go with her to Mr. 
Whyte’s study and hear him play them. And 
for her reward they were executed so charm- 


A Strategic Arrangement, i59 

ingly that she was intensely interested in spite 
of herself. 

The melodious strains floated in through the 
windows of the drawing-room where Breta and 
de Grey were sitting, and though conversing 
delightfully, never once touching on the subject 
Frank had selected in her own mind for them. 

It was in the afternoon, after lunch, that, 
taking a stroll around the tangled grounds, 
Selma was expatiating with great enthusiasm 
on the plan she and Joslyn had of restoring the 
old place to its pristine order, and having 
arrived at the knoll under the great elms, they 
seated themselves on the old carved seats, 
where the cool breezes were forever playing. 

The vast extent of the prospect before them, 
bounded by the purple mists and the blue 
shadowy mountain range ; the varied beauty of 
the seventy odd miles of valley below them, 
with its picturesque villages, streams, and for- 
ests, gave them something always to study. 
And conversation flagging, Breta, her large, 
clear eyes shining like stars, seemed to lose 
herself in contemplation of the view. Selma 
looked admiringly upon her, and as she chanced 
to glance from her to Joslyn, she saw in his 


1 6 o The Benefit of the Doubt, 

eyes, which were attentively regarding Breta, a 
certain inscrutable something that suddenly 
caused a light to break in on her comprehen- 
sion. She seemed a little bewildered by it at 
first, and then evidently recalling many un- 
heeded little points of the past few days, her 
face settled into a well-satisfied expression. 

Frank had watchfully noted and understood 
Selma’s chain of thought, and a few moments 
after, when Judith, Selma's deaf-and-dumb maid, 
appeared, intimating that Miss de Grey was 
needed at the house, she rose to go also. 

I am dying for the second volume of this,” 
exclaimed Frank, giving the book she held in 
her hand, with a slender forefinger shut in as a 
mark, a graceful little outward sway.* I have 
galloped through this first volume between 
whiles, and I must see how the hero and heroine 
get out of their troubles, and who gets who in 
the end.” And Frank drew Selma’s arm within 
her own, and sauntered off with her toward the 
house. 

Breta was silent for a time, apparently still 
studying the broad landscape. De Grey was 
silent also, sufficiently well content to study 
her, the repose of her exquisitely moulded 


A Strategic Arrangement, i6i 

features evidently possessing a rare charm for 
him. 

This view has a wonderful attraction for 
me ; it always brings up a crowd of half- 
forgotten recollections and suggestions of future 
possibilities,” observed Breta, quietly, looking 
up at de Grey. 

'' Such as ” — prompted he. 

‘‘ Oh ! I doubt if I could find words to make 
them intelligible. It is so easy to think — 
dream I mean — and so difficult to put vague 
dreams into a presentable shape in words.” 

Then you should sing them, Miss Garnet. 
There is a world you say when you sing. I 
thought, on that first Sunday I heard you, that 
I had never before understood those inspired 
words. To be able to express the full import 
of beautiful words, in tones so cultured that 
the labor of the culture is lost in the spon- 
taneity of utterance, is the perfection of art, 
allied to the divine gift of nature.” 

'' You at least, Mr. de Grey, are at no loss, I 
see, for words with which to express your 
thoughts,” said Breta, with a light laugh. 

I accept only the flattering letter of your 
unrhymed epigram. Miss Garnet ; I reject utter- 


i62 The Benefit of the DoitbL 

ly its satirical spirit,” responded de Grey, laugh- 
ing with a keen relish of her pointed speech 
and its accompanying smile. “ But really, I 
have been for the past five or six years so de- 
voted to scientific study that the thoughts and 
dreams of young ladies have formed but a small 
part of my life. I confess to some curiosity on 
the point.” 

“As a matter of scientific study?” asked 
Breta, with a bright, upward look. “ But it would 
scarcely pay you for the labor, Mr. de Grey. 
You had better trust to the physiological and 
ethical writers. They will tell you with one ac- 
cord that the feminine brain is incapable of any 
purely logical train of thought ; that we jump 
at our conclusions. In short, that we are very 
shoal and frivolous, and that it is to the massive, 
powerful, masculine brain the world owes all its 
wise deductions and — and every thing useful 
or great.” 

“ I am at your mercy. Miss Garnet,” returned 
de Grey, laughing. “ I have nothing to say in 
defence of the physiologists. I am not certain 
though but that jumping at a conclusion is the 
wisest way of arriving at it. Socrates infers it 
when he tells us that intuition is but a rapid 
process of reasoning by analogy.” 


A Strategic Arrangement. 163 

Oh, that was centuries ago.- Modern ethics 
are far in advance of Socrates. The modern 
writers, in giving us intuition as an especially 
feminine trait, infer, of course, that it is quite a 
puerile attribute, far beneath the dignity of the 
masculine brain.’' 

“ Then you think, Miss Garnet, that the mod- 
ern ethicists wade sometimes beyond their 
depth ? The Rosy-cross-men, you know, held 
intuition and inspiration as one.” 

“ I — I scarcely know what I really do think,” 
faltered Breta, with a half laugh. Brought sud- 
denly face to face with her own drolling, she 
began to have grave misgivings that she might 
be making a goose of herself before such a 
young wiseacre as her uncle had represented de 
Grey to be. “ Please understand, Mr. de Grey, 
if I advance opinions, it is, of course, in a per- 
fectly reckless, illogical way. I have thought 
out so little,” she added. 

“ You advance opinions in a perfectly — in a 
way that interests me beyond measure,” said 
de Grey, looking down into her eyes with a 
warm light in his. “ And I should say you had 
done some pretty hard thinking to master the 
crabbed points of music, just as you have.” 


164 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

‘‘ A little hard study was all that was necessary 
to achieve that. Those who made the music 
did the hard thinking/' asserted Breta, lightly, 
steadying herself under his look. 

‘‘ To interpret the great masters understand- 
ingly is to be one with them," affirmed de Grey. 

‘Tt would be pleasant to think so ; but 
brought up as I was in a land of music and art- 
treasure, where one is reminded on all sides of 
the great things superior intelligences can 
achieve, one is apt, I suppose, to think slight- 
ingly of one’s own small powers." This was 
said with so much simplicity that de Grey, 
studying Breta’s face for a moment, replied quite 
indirectly : 

“ To the great masters who devoted their 
lives to the development of art the world owes 
its best lessons. Those men of the Renaissance 
— those world-renowned painters, — with their 
rare ability, would have been great scientists, 
statesmen, or musicians under other conditions. 
Their influence will be felt to the end of time." 

“ Ah, you see, Mr. de Grey, they had the 
originality to comprehend that nature is the 
best model, and the courage to forsake the ser- 
vile copying of foregone methods, and the 


A Strategic Arrangement. i65 

genius to execute new conceptions/’ said Breta, 
warmly. 

“ Yes, all those were needed. The persistent 
departure from worn-out methods into a bold 
conception of the truth found in nature is what 
produces the new birth in art, or music, or let- 
ters, or in religion. It was Luther s originality 
and genius and courage that created the Ger- 
man Reformation, which is called, you know, 
the Renaissance of Christianity, — the word Re- 
naissance being interpreted as ' the conscious- 
ness of intellectual liberty.’ ” 

‘‘Yes, I see,” returned Breta, deeply inter- 
ested. “ And the intellectual liberty of Italy — 
and through Italy that of other nations — com- 
menced with the Renaissance, the Rinascenza, 
literally the New Birth.” 

“ Commenced,” added de Grey, smiling at 
her quiet enthusiasm, “ when, in .the thirteenth 
century, the sculptor Niccola Pisano, and close 
upon him the painter Giotto, and following 
them Michael Angelo, da Vinci, Titian, Ra- 
phael, Correggio, and the whole army of great 
painters and sculptors, turned their backs on 
the models of the schools to work out their 
ideas with all nature before them. After Cor- 


1 66 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

reggio, artists began again copying from school 
models — it was now their beloved Raffaele they 
copied — and art declined. Then came the po- 
litical troubles of the seventeenth century, and 
art in Italy was threatened with extinction. But 
pardon me, Miss Garnet, I am growing exten- 
sively statistic, to say nothing of didactic,'' con- 
cluded de Grey, with a laugh at himself. 

‘'Then there was the French Renaissance, 
Mr. de Grey, of which I know positively noth- 
ing," suggested Breta, with a tentative upward 
glance and smile. 

“ And the English Renaissance, Miss Garnet, 
started by Turner and followed up by the pre- 
Raphaelite brotherhood." 

“ I have the profoundest admiration," return- 
ed Breta, “for those pre-Raphaelite painters, 
who have so bravely withstood the howls of the 
Royal Academy and the press, and have proved 
by their works that nature to study from is bet- 
ter than the models of the schools. Those of 
the old Renaissance had the encouragement of 
appreciation and sympathy, while these of the 
new Renaissance — these leaders of a forlorn 
hope — have worked on, achieving success, with 
the discouragement of abuse from all sides." 


A Strategic Arrangement. 167 

De Grey watched the delicate changes of 
Breta’s face, that expressed so much more of 
generous enthusiasm than even her words. 

They have been and are so ably defended 
by John Ruskin, a host in himself,” said he, 
“ that they need no other support. But men so 
much in earnest as they would work on the 
same without defence.” 

‘'And the new social Renaissance of aesthetic 
London, Mr. de Grey, that has so curiously 
grown out of the other. My cousin, Noel Dun- 
raven, has labored diligently to make me see it 
as he sees it. But he failed utterly, for I could 
make nothing of it ; at least, that was pleasant,” 

Breta said this in her quietest way, not as im- 
parting a confidence, but as simply narrating a 
fact, with the charming candor that formed so 
large a part of her character. 

De Grey’s spirits rose perceptibly. 

“ Mr. Dunraven has painted some fine pict- 
ures, Mr. Whyte tells me,” said he. 

“ Very fine, and he has written some, mostly 
verse, and has composed music. (De Grey listen- 
ed attentively.) No one can find fault with his 
perspectives, or lights and shades,” continued 
Breta, “ or his dactyls or iambics, or detect 


1 68 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

prohibited fifths, faulty progressions, or other 
irregularities in his nocturnes or idyls. What- 
ever he does, he does well.” 

De Grey, feeling the Dunraven ground to be 
a somewhat dangerous one, but wishing to hear 
Breta still further express herself, said : 

My sister admires Mr. Dunraven greatly, 
and even thinks of working out the sesthetic 
problem for her own improvement.” 

Breta opened her eyes a little wonderingly as 
she looked up and met de Grey’s incomprehen- 
sible glance. 

'' We — my Uncle Ray and I, — ” said she, 
spent several weeks in London just before we 
came to America, after leaving Milan. We 
were with my aunt, who is the very head and 
front of the aesthetic offending. Noel Dun- 
raven also was there, and my aunt (she is not 
his aunt, being my father’s sister) depends upon 
him, when she is fortunate enough to get him 
in London, to assist her at her co7tversazioni 
and other msthetic gatherings. Her house is 
large, and the drawing-rooms, connecting, are 
so arranged as to doors and furniture, to give 
an idea of space and repose. There are numer- 
ous curiously contrived vistas, quite labyrin- 


A Strategic Arrangement. 169 

thine in effect, terminating in gorgeous displays 
of flowers or plants, or in cunningly hung pict- 
ures, by famous artists, with the light falling on 
each from unexpected windows at just the right 
angle. It is all very beautiful and very wonder- 
ful. Her collection of faience and majolica 
(the majolica of undoubted Majorca origin) is 
of the finest — as are all of her art decorations. 
And her collection of friends is not to be rivalled. 
One meets all the celebrities, all the great per- 
sonages of the day at her entertainments. And 
the gowns of the most ardent of the aesthetes 
are truly astonishing. The operatic stage fades 
into insignificance before their artistically tinted 
costumes of every century. They (the aesthetes) 
have attitudes and ohs ! and ahs ! for great sing- 
ers or fine piano recitals, every shade of ‘ soul ' 
and ‘ intensity ' being expressed ; and they ex- 
pire with delight, or revive with despair. They 
made of me — ” Here Breta came to a sudden 
pause. 

Pray, Miss Garnet, don’t leave the part of 
Hamlet out,” urged de Grey, laughing as he 
looked intently at Breta. 

‘‘ Well, I was the last new craze. You see I 
had just been singing at Milan, and they set to 


1 70 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

work calling me narpes/’ and Breta lifted her 
eyes to his with a brilliant look. 

'' Calling you names? ” repeated de Grey. 

“ They called me Raphaelesque, Titianesque, 
a Correggio, a Millais, Bordone-esque, and the 
esque of nearly every known painter. If I had 
been Proteus himself I could not have had 
more, or more dissimilar, esques^' said Breta, 
with a short laugh. 

“In brief, you were the one utterly-utter, 
pulsating soul that pleased to pain.” De Grey, 
spoke in a tone of burlesque, while suddenly 
across his eyes flickered a comprehensive 
gleam, as though at that instant he had made 
the discovery of a long-sought-for point. 

“ There was a very lov — there was a face on 
exhibition a few weeks ago, a head, in the gal- 
lery of the New York Decorative Society,” con- 
tinued he, carefully choosing his words. “ It 
was there, and then was gone. I missed it 
severely. It was not for sale, and I was told, on 
enquiring, that the original of the face had cen- 
sured the artist (names of both original and ar- 
tist not revealed) for exhibiting the painting 
without her permision, — and consequently its 
removal. The artist, if I mistake not, was Mr. 
Dunraven.” 


A Strategic Arrangement, 17 1 

'' Yes, it was he. And we — he and I — came 
very near a final disagreement about it,” replied 
Breta, quietly, but she said no more. 

There are some fine things being done at 
present in the Decorative Art Society and else- 
where in decorative art, and more that are 
trivial and meaningless,” said de Grey. “ But 
the poorest is better, much better than nothing 
being done. Is not that your opinion also. 
Miss Garnet ? ” 

Don’t you understand why the decorative 
art of this day is so trivial, so inferior to v/hat 
it was in the old faience and majolica times ? 
It is all owing to the fact that so many women 
are entering the art-field,” suggested Breta, with 
a laugh. 

“ And women sing. Miss Garnet. And such 
a gift as yours — to return to my first proposi- 
tion — is one of the grandest inspirations of 
which the world can boast.” 

“ And I am never really and entirely con- 
tented except when I am singing. And I — I 
often ask myself if I did right in resigning a 
profession where, had there been nothing vex- 
ing, I should have been supremely happy.” 

“ Knowing your success, and your capacity 


1 7 2 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

for succeeding, Miss Garnet, I have wondered 
why you gave it up.” 

‘‘ The management and the maestri urged 
me to continue ; every one urged me to con- 
tinue ; but they all — the public, I mean — made 
such a fuss over me (that is, my voice), and it 
all (the fuss, I mean) seemed so noisy and 
jarred so on me that — well I was sixteen then, 
and it was three years ago and over ; perhaps 
I might have more nerve now to withstand the 
— the disagreeable part of it.” 

They — disagreeable things — are what all 
successful artists are compelled to undergo, es- 
pecially one so — ” de Grey came to a sudden 
pause. ''Your uncle told me,” resumed he, 
" of your reasons for quitting the brilliant career 
before you ; but it occurred to me, though per- 
haps I have no right to judge, that with a little 
more — as you say — nerve, you might have 
lived down the disagreeable side of the life, for 
the sake of the great benefit you could confer 
on the world. For such voices as yours. Miss 
Garnet, can teach the world, and the world 
needs teaching.” 

" There is where it is, Mr. de Grey,” replied 
Breta, seriously. " I have, of late, felt my lack 


A Strategic Arrangement, 173 

of aim in life. Admitting that nothing can har- 
monize and humanize human beings more than 
music, all who can raise the standard of music 
by giving to the world the best, ought to sacri- 
fice every thing for that. I am satisfied I did 
wrong in refusing to lend my mite toward help- 
ing on the improvement of the race. If I could 
not give the very best I could have given 7 ny 
best.” And Breta gave a little laugh and a little 
upward glance half mocking, half serious. 

“ And you may yet repair your error. Miss 
Garnet, and make the world hap — and use your 
gift for the benefit of mankind ? ” 

Possibly, yes.” 

'' And your uncle ? ” 

Highly approves.” 

For a few moments nothing was said, but 
meeting Breta’s eyes that were filled with a ten- 
der content, and thinking he had never seen 
her look so charming, de Grey remarked : 

“ I, too, have my aims in life. Miss Garnet ; 
some that would be called visionary, but others 
— good, practical ones — that I shall undoubtedly 
carry out. It would give me much pleasure to 
explain them to you some day.” 

The '' some day,” but more the look accom- 


1 74 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

panying it, aroused Breta forcibly from the vague 
and pleasant wandering into which she had fal- 
len to the full significance of the more days like 
the present. Trusting herself only to say how 
much pleasure it would give her to listen to his 
plans, she hurried into a description of portions 
of her home life at Milan, portraying Madama 
the Contessa, and signor the professore, her old 
maestro, and introduced so many characteristic 
biographical anecdotes, that de Grey declared 
he felt well acquainted with both, and was say- 
ing he was sure he could pick out the professor 
among a thousand, as Frank, with Selma and 
Mr. Whyte, came up. 

“ I would not let your uncle bury himself any 
longer this lovely afternoon, so I dragged 
him out of his den to come and help entertain 
us. Did I not do right, Breta ? ” 

Do you not always do right, Miss Bowers ? 
asked de Grey. 

Certainly, always. It is so easy to do right, 
you know. But I wish to tell you the pro- 
gramme for this evening,'’ continued Frank, 
so breezily it was as though a strong west 
wind had arisen. “ Breta is to sing, I am to 
sing, you, Mr. de Grey, are to play on your de- 


A Strategic Arrangement, i75 

Hghtful cello, with Mr. Whyte s Cremona, and 
Miss de Grey to accompany on the piano. It 
— the piano — is just unboxed and set up, and 
is such an exquisitely toned instrument ! I have 
been making Miss de Grey play for me.” 

‘‘ It was the arrival of the piano, then, that 
called you off to the house, was it, Selma ? ” 
asked de Grey. 

I have finished that arrangement, de Grey,” 
observed Mr. Whyte. 

So remiss in me not to give you the credit, 
Mr. Whyte, of the arrangement,” exclaimed 
Frank, with one of her mischievous looks. 

His eyes taking in the mischievous look, Mr. 
Whyte, with his twisted smile, said : 

‘‘ I was alluding, Miss Frank, to my score of 
Bach’s fugue in C sharp.” 

Score one against me, Mr. Whyte. I take 
it all Bach. We ’ll have my arrangement car- 
ried out to the letter, and yours to the note — 
seven sharps, and all.” 

You are too many sharps for me. Miss 
Frank,” returned quiet little Mr. Whyte, with 
another twisted smile. 

At dinner, Selma had for additional guests 
Dunraven and Counsellor Black, and the even- 


1 76 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

ing was devoted, as Frank had intimated, to 
music ; Dunraven, in his light, taking-it-for- 
granted way, playing all Breta's accompani- 
ments, and playing them exquisitely, as Breta 
had said he did every thing. 

He quite overpowered even unemotional Mr. 
Black, with the superbness of his attitudes. 
And de Grey, when he drove Breta and Frank 
back to the seminary, was so silent and Breta 
was so silent, that Frank had to do all the 
talking. 


XL 

A GREAT ADMIRATION FOR SOLDIERS. 

A S every day merges into the next, so the 
next day came, — a warm, sunny, bell- 
ringing Sunday. People go to church for various 
causes. Some to show new hats and dresses, 
some because somebody will say something if 
they don’t go to church, some to criticise, some 
to set a good example, and some few, rare in- 
dividuals, to worship. 

Joslyn de Grey went to worship ; but it was 
at the shrine of a beautiful graven idol he knelt. 
And he carried back with him for home wor- 
ship (a generous harvest he had garnered and 
miserly hoarded) the noble strains of a voice 
of purest melody, the sweet outlines of a 
lovely face replete with character and feeling, 
and certain stray glances from charming eyes 
that had bewitched him hopelessly. 

It was on Tuesday morning, the day before 


177 


178 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

the picnic, that de Grey found himself face to 
face again with Breta, upon riding over to the 
seminary and valiantly standing the cross-fire 
from countless dazzling eyes, as he passed the 
young ladies engaged at tennis on the lawn ; 
Selim indulging himself in the many remark- 
able equine evolutions spirited horses take it in 
their heads to perform at times. 

Breta, with Frank beside her, an arm thrown 
lovingly over Breta’s shoulder, was sitting on 
the veranda in Miss Rutherford’s favorite nook 
when off duty, and was reading aloud to 
that lady from a late French journal. Sadie 
Burrill and Pella Morton also were listening to 
the reading — it being the hour before lesson 
time — Sadie looking as she always did, like a 
peach or a garden rose-bud, and Pella in the 
attitude in which Garafelia Mohalbi’s portrait 
was taken. Frank had told her that de Grey 
thought her like the picture, and at consider- 
able pains and expense she had procured a copy 
of it ; and she herself was sure she needed 
only the Greek costume to make the similitude 
perfect. 

After the introduction was over to the young 
ladies with whom he was unacquainted, de 


A Great Admiration for Soldiers. 179 

Grey, apologizing, said he was afraid he had 
interrupted some important lesson. 

“ No lesson at all, I assure you, “ blandly re- 
plied Miss Rutherford. “I do not understand 
French or Italian very well, Mr. de Grey, and 
Miss Garnet, frequently in our leisure hours, 
kindly translates for me the foreign news, keep- 
ing me posted in the scientific and musical in- 
formation I should otherwise lose.” 

'' And so do not get rusty in the languages 
of the countries where I spent so many years 
of my life,” returned Breta, with a graceful turn 
of her head toward de Grey, and a pretty 
ignoring of conferring a favor that was delight- 
ful. 

“ I often have occasion to tell Miss Garnet 
that she is more than half Italian,” said Miss 
Rutherford, with dignified suavity. 

My sympathies certainly were always, and 
my strongest affection still is, with Italy ; but I 
am an American, and shall never give up my 
birthright,” Breta replied quietly, with a 
charmingly ingenuous smile. But there was 
something in the very quiet tone of her voice, 
and the concentrated look in her large eyes, 
that seemed a defiant little protest for the great 


i8o The Benefit of the Doubt. 

love she confessed to having for a country not 
her own. 

At least de Grey so interpreted her. 

No one could live the early years of one’s 
life in such a country as Italy, of all countries, 
so full of traditions and memories that appeal to 
the strongest feelings, without becoming in 
heart an Italian,” said he. 

Oh, Mr. de Grey! ” piped up Pella Mor- 
ton in silvery tones, “ no one could hear Miss 
Garnet relate some of the scenes she has actu- 
ally witnessed at the time Garibaldi was fight- 
ing so desperately, and the Austrian police 
had it all their own way, without cold shivers ; 
and then when the Prussian victory over 
Austria came in so nicely to help Italy to 
Venice and the Quadrilateral and all that 
for which Italy was fighting so hard ; and 
then when the French Empire was overthrown, 
and Victor Emanuel marched triumphantly into 
Rome ; I assure you, Mr. de Grey, it would all 
fairly make your hair stand on end.” 

“ I assure you. Miss Morton, my mental hair 
has stood on end many times in reading of the 
desperate (desperate is just the word. Miss 
Morton) struggles of Italy against such odds,” 


A Great Admiration for Soldiers. i8i 

returned de Grey, with a very ambiguous 
smile. ‘‘ When I was a boy I wanted to enlist 
under Garibaldi, and parental authority found it 
difficult to restrain my ardor.” 

I was not over nine years old,” said Breta, 
laughing, “when I accompanied Uncle Ray, 
who was as staunch a patriot as the staunchest, 
to Garibaldis camp. It was a curious place for 
a little girl to be in ; but it was my ardent de- 
sire, and Uncle Ray never denied me any 
thing. We went from Milan to Genoa, and 
then from Genoa to Palermo in a vessel. Gari- 
baldi was stationed on a little plateau, which had 
a wide outlook, up in those grim Sicilian moun- 
tain ranges ; his scarlet soldiers (some one has 
called his red soldiery ‘ a fiery sword of retri- 
bution ’) having stuck lances in the ground and 
stretched blankets across them, for Garibaldi 
allowed nothing so effeminate as tents. The 
whole scene was a never-to-be-forgotten one 
in its wild picturesqueness. There were several 
Americans present, and two or three British 
naval officers. Uncle Ray having effected the 
object of his visit, which was a personal inter- 
view with the great general, and to present him 
with quite a large sum of money, we left.” 


i82 The Benefit ofi the Doubt, 

''It must have been bea-e-u-u-tiful ! ex- 
claimed Pella. " But I should have been ter- 
ribly frightened.'’ 

" It was a great event for me,” continued 
Breta. " Garibaldi shook hands with me when 
we went ; and I told him I hated the Austrians 
(my hatred for the Austrians in those days was 
perfectly fierce), and I told him with a great 
deal of fervor that I knew he would be even 
with them yet. Garibaldi laughed heartily at 
my words, and those near him roared with 
laughter. And then they all (the red soldiery, I 
mean, not Garibaldi) set up an ' evvivaing ’ that 
terrified me some ; but my small soul was so 
consumed by the fires of patriotism, that I stood 
it all without flinching.” 

" Such an honor, Mr. de Grey, to have shaken 
hands and conversed with Garibaldi ! ” said 
Pella, at the conclusion of the laugh Breta had 
elicited. 

" In those years my love for Victor Emman- 
uel,” continued Breta, " was beyond any thing I 
can express. And when the victory of Sedan 
overthrew the French power, the entry of Vic- 
tor Emmanuel in Rome was quite as enthusiastic 
a triumph to me as it could have been to him. 


A Great Admiratio 7 i for Soldiers, 183 

I was about fourteen at that time. And for 
Verdi — who worked so hard for Italy, in many 
ways — my love was an overwhelming enthu- 
siasm. Verdi’s name, in fact, was a talisman 
throughout Italy. And ‘Viva V-e-r-d-i’ was 
well understood in every opera-house and 
every gathering to mean not only ‘ Viva Verdi,’ 
but ‘ Viva Vittorio E^nmanuele Re d' Italia ’ as 
well. And the watchful Austrian police, who 
had caused Verdi’s operas to be so remorse- 
lessly cut down, in rooting out patriotic expres- 
sions (thougii they never got them all out) could 
find nothing in ‘ Viva Verdi ’ that must be sup- 
pressed, although it was a watchword so well 
known to Italian patriots.” 

“ That is something you never told us before. 
Miss Garnet,” said Pella, bending forward from 
her Garafelia attitude which she had again as- 
sumed. “ It is quite an historical item. Singu- 
lar that the letters of Verdi’s name should be 
so significant, — and Verdi such a maestro too.” 

“ Do hear Pella gush,” said Frank, in a tone 
inaudible to all but her friend Sadie Burrill, 
over toward whom she had leaned. 

“ Don’t you admire Verdi excessively, Mr. de 
Grey ? ” asked Pella. “ He makes you fairly in 


184 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

love with consecutive octaves, he manages them 
so cleverly — just as Chopin does his consecu- 
tive fifths. It is so perfectly lovely to be able 
to transcend rules and make something superi- 
or — that cannot be found fault with. It is the 
acme of genius.” And Pella fell back into her 
Garafelia attitude. 

‘‘ For my part,” broke in Frank, with an ex- 
pressive little grimace over at Breta, I must 
confess Pella has the advantage of me, if she can 
even tell a consecutive fifth. I never could, 
notwithstanding the howl Harmonists make 
over them. But I agree with her in one thing, 
that it is perfectly lovely to break rules on occa- 
sion.” 

Even Miss Rutherford was compelled to join 
in the laugh this created, and Pella, trying hard 
to look amiable, laughed more than any one 
else. 

De Grey, saved the necessity of replying to 
Pella’s somewhat puzzling remark, turned to 
Miss Rutherford. 

I come freighted with a message from my 
sister,” said he. ‘‘ Mr. Black, Col. Conynghame, 
and Count Gueret have unexpectedly arrived 
at Elmwood, and Selma begs the privilege of 


A Great Admiratio7i for Soldiers, i85 

bringing them with her to the picnic to- 
morrow.” 

Miss de Grey’s friends are more than wel- 
come. Pray tell your sister I consider she has 
the ordering of who shall be invited quite as 
much as I. Still, of course, it being a school 
picnic it is very kind and thoughtful in her to 
defer to me. The Count Gueret of whom, you 
speak is the writer, is he not, of that article on 
French politics just out in the Age ? ” 

The same. He is quite a savant, as well 
as revolutionist, and is of the old French 
stock.” 

And the Col. Conynghame you mention dis- 
tinguished himself, if I remember aright, in our 
late civil war ? ” 

''You remember aright. Miss Rutherford,” 
replied de Grey, with a smile. " Ralph — Col. 
Conynghame — caught the patriotic fever (from 
which I suffered also, being then fifteen) and 
enlisted when he was only seventeen years old. 
At eighteen, for having captured a Southern 
flag under marked circumstances, he was made 
lieutenant of a company that his father raised 
and fitted out. And upon the close of the war 
he was colonel of a regiment ; and although he 


1 85 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

had been serving in all less than three years he 
achieved considerable military renown/' 

‘‘ He must still be very young ? ” said Miss 
Rutherford questioningly. 

'' He is twenty-eight, two years older than I. 
Ralph and I (did I say he is my cousin ?) have 
been abroad mostly since the close of the 
war." 

It must be a glorious thing to feel one has 
fought and bled in defence of one’s country," 
remarked Pella. 

‘‘ And a still more glorious thing to be able 
to say : ‘ I fought, bled, and died for my coun- 
try,’ ’’ put in Frank, with melodramatic fervor 
and an aside grimace at Pella. 

You must excuse Frank," said Pella, sweet- 
ly. “ She is always privileged to — pardon me 
if I use one of her own graphic expressions — 
to ‘ go you one better.’ ’’ 

‘‘ Was Col. Conynghame ever gloriously 
wounded, Mr. de Grey ? ’’ asked Frank, laugh- 
ing. 

Never seriously," replied de Grey, evident- 
ly enjoying the hors T cEUvre of Pella and 
Frank, though too polite to show it. “ He 
served under Grant, but like many others who 


A Great Admiration for Soldiers, 187 

escaped unscathed, he seemed possessed of the 
secret of charming off bullets.” 

Col. Conynghame would undoubtedly have 
become a great general, had the wir continued ; 
do you not think so, Mr. de Grey ? ” interro- 
gated Pella Morton, turning her beautiful 
Greek face toward de Grey, with an expression 
of the deepest interest. 

‘‘ Undoubtedly, Miss Morton ; that is, I think 
so. Ralph Conynghame is talented and ener- 
getic and — ambitious also,” responded de Grey 
glancing from Pella to Breta and mentally com- 
paring the cold, uncertain glint of Pella’s steel- 
blue eyes with the warm, steadfast light of 
Breta’s. 

“We shall see your cousin to morrow at the 
picnic, shall we not, Mr. de Grey ? I have a 
great admiration for soldiers,” said Frank, with 
a laugh, having taken a comprehensive note of 
de Grey’s mental comparison. 

“ Weather permitting the picnic to come off. 
Miss Bowers,” acquiesced de Grey. 

“ Are you a weather-prophet, Mr. de Grey ? 
Will it be fair to-morrow? ” asked Pella, with a 
sweet smile. 

“ I have always observed, Miss Morton, that 


i88 


The Bene^t of the Doubt 


the weather has a trick of reversing my predict 
tions. Had you not better consult ' Proba- 
bilities ? ' 

Have you read to-day’s Times, Miss Ruth- 
erford ? ” airily asked Pella, in a honey-svv^eet 
voice and with a rippling laugh. 

If I mistake not, Miss Morton, the indica- 
tions are for a falling barometer. We may 
possibly have a thunder shower.” 

It behooves us to take our water-proof 
wraps, and — ” The school-bell, ringing loudly 
just then, interrupted Pella, and de Grey took 
his leave. 


XII. 


“ DID I NOT TELL YOU HE IS DEEP ? ” 

P rose the sun on the lovely dewy morn- 



u ing following, with abundant promise 
of a pleasant day, and up rose the expectant 
young aspirants for a delightful change from 
plodding school-life. 

As the shadow of the towering mountain 
left the cosey valley over which, like a guardian 
giant, it stood sentinel, the pretty village of Lea 
at its base, circled by wooded hills, looked, in 
the clearing mist, more than ever like a huge 
water-lily, with one petal missing where ' the 
bend in the river came. 

Winding up and around one of the lesser 
hills — the hill on which stood Miss Rutherford’s 
seminary, — was the road to Rocky Glen, and 
it had been agreed upon that all the vehicles 
should meet and start at the same time from 
the school. 


189 


1 90 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

Many of the guests — the de Greys, the 
Judge Waltons, the Gen. Leightons, and others 
among the village dignitaries — went in their own 
carriages. And so prompt had all been, that 
the cavalcade left Miss Rutherford’s a little be- 
fore the appointed time. 

To the juveniles the picnic was an important 
event, and the brilliancy of their expectations 
seemed graduated by the brightness and huge- 
ness of the bows of their wide sashes, and the 
depth of embroidery to their wide collars. 

Descending the hill the party struck into the 
river road, and from between the crisp lights 
and shadows of the early morning glimpses 
were caught, through the intervening trees, of 
the ever- winding river, sparkling in the newly 
risen sun, showing here a sharp curve, where 
it came tumbling and foaming over rocks, and 
beyond a placid pool in which the graceful 
fountain elms and the stately forest oak lay 
mirrored as in a glass. 

Passing the old feed-mill, made irhmortal by 
the charming painting of one of our well- 
known artists, they drove over the rough, rustic 
bridge that spanned the clear, spring-fed waters 
of a trout-filled tributary to the river, — so clear, 


‘‘ Did I Not Tell Yoti He Is Deep N 191 


that the little brook took its tints from the 
varied foliage and mossy rocks margining its 
banks. And many were the jokes and quips 
volunteered by the gay party as they noted the 
posted placards warning all intruders from fish- 
ing in the tempting stream, where the speckled 
trout lay looking up from their pebbly beds, 
cool and saucy. 

A sharp bend in the road brought the party 
in full view of the falls. The suddenness with 
which the tumbling, roaring, foaming, splash- 
ing, dashing little cataract came upon the sight, 
on turning the sharp bend, was always sure to 
elicit an involuntary “ Oh ! ” and the combined 
and many-voiced “ Ohs ! ” from the numerous 
vehicles that morning, as the vista broke on 
them-, formed quite a startling chorus. 

The glen, where they were to meet, within 
view of the falls, and surrounded by rocks, on 
which and between which grew trees in the 
wildest, most rugged manner, possessed in its 
centre a velvety lawn, well adapted for tennis 
and croquet. And so full were Nellie Bowers 
and the other juveniles of croquet, that hugging 
their mallets closely in their arms as they were 
helped down from the omnibus, they had staked 


192 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

off their grounds before all the party had fairly 
alighted. 

Frank, magnificent with her dark, oriental 
eyes and raven hair, and in her stylish gown so 
becoming to her, was sauntering over the green 
sward with Breta, making funny remarks about 
every thing that came in her way. 

Breta, always lovely, seemed this morning the 
embodiment of loveliness in her soft, gray, well- 
fitting gown. The charm of her face, so vary- 
ing in expression, and the beauty of her 
features, so exquisitely moulded, were never 
eclipsed by the brilliant Frank Bowers — who re- 
minded one of an Eastern sunset — but beside 
her were accented instead, and made more ap- 
parent. 

The de Greys, with Mr. Black and the rest 
of their party, coming up to them, they were 
introduced by Selma to Col. Conynghame and 
Count Gueret, whereupon Selma, with Mr. 
Black, went to rejoin Miss Rutherford. 

The count, dark to swarthiness, with a satur- 
nine countenance, a wiry, withy form, and 
movements quick and angular, like those of a 
well-conditioned crab used to polite society, was 
so impressively imbued with that ease of man- 


Did I Not l^ell You He Is Deep?"' 193 


ner, intensely French, that they were all freely 
chatting at once ; he animadverting on the ex- 
treme earliness of the hour, and extolling the 
beauty of the drive, the falls, and the glen. De 
Grey having just then monopolized Breta’s at- 
tention, the count turned to Frank. 

“ Shall we not go and see the kitchen ar- 
rangements, Miss Bowers ? I take great inter- 
est in camp-cooking,” said he, with a thin smile 
that pointed his moustache upward. 

'' You do also. Col. Conynghame, do you 
not ? ” asked Frank, turning to Conynghame. 

Conynghame, tall, erect, and with a soldierly 
carriage, was possessed of such a marked court- 
liness of manner, devoid of ostentation, devoid 
of striking attitudes, and was so polite by nature 
and culture, that in his presence you felt good- 
breeding to be the most desirable of arts. His 
simple title of colonel seemed insufficient for so 
much stateliness and elegance of demeanor, and 
you felt like addressing him as '' My lord duke,” 
or ‘‘ Excellency,” or '' Highness.” 

'' I have seen the time, Miss Bowers,” said 
he, lifting his hat to Frank, and bowing in re- 
sponse to her invitation as they walked on, 
when, if I had not taken an interest in camp- 


1 94 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

cooking, it would have gone hard with the poor 
fellows who depended on others to do the think- 
ing for them.” 

“ It was well you had something to cook, or 
it would have gone hard with you as well,” re- 
turned Frank, with a laugh. 

'' Somehow, when so many brave fellows are 
worn out with a long march, short rations, and 
hard fighting, one forgets to think of one’s self,” 
said Conynghame, lifting a mental hat to Frank. 
He always seemed, in conversing with ladies, 
when not lifting an actual hat, as occasion de- 
manded, to be lifting a mental one. 

Let us offer thanks in our breakfast grace 
that we do not have to be stinted in our omelet 
and coffee.” The count spoke with such mock- 
ing lightness, that Frank, prepared to rap out a 
startling rejoinder, chanced to meet Conyng- 
hame’s fine eyes regarding her with an attentive 
look, as though waiting for her to speak, and 
she addressed him instead. 

‘‘ I also, with Breta Garnet, had my patriotic 
fires. Mine took the form of pocket-money. 
All my allowance I regularly sent, besides inter- 
viewing papa repeatedly for more liberal sup- 
plies. And if the poor soldiers ever fell short 


Did I Not Tell You He Is DeepN 195 


in their rations it was all owing to the question 
of pocket-money.” 

Then Miss Garnet was also patriotic ? ” 
asked Conynghame, laughing, and looking back 
a little to where Breta and de Grey were follow- 
ing them. 

Immensely,” returned Frank, also looking 
back, and noting that Breta was evidently much 
interested in what de Grey was saying. But 
her patriotism took a more active form than 
mine. She served under Garibaldi, you know, 
encouraging him in his hour of need.” 

Conynghame regarded Frank in a little un- 
certainty for an instant, then his fine face light- 
ed up with a comprehensive smile. 

‘‘ I see,” said he. 

“Very kind, very considerate of you. Miss 
Bowers, to deny yourself of all your pocket- 
money, foregoing candy and that,” remarked 
the count, still in his light, mocking tone. 

“ It was owing quite as much to the kind, 
considerate hearts that cared for us as to our 
own exertions, that the war was carried to a 
successful issue,” returned Conynghame, his 
well-modulated baritone contrasting pleasantly 
with the count’s cynical, incisive voice. 


1 96 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

The huge fire that crackled and blazed in its 
rocky fireplace, with the glancing to and fro 
before it of the cooks and their aids, which now 
opened on their vision, formed a scene highly 
suggestive, the count delared, of a witch’s sabbat. 

“ Did you ever see a witch’s sabbaty Count 
Gueret? ” asked Frank. 

‘‘ Oh, a vast number. Miss Bowers — on the 
stage.'' 

Breta and de Grey here joining them, they 
all stood watching the culinary arrangements 
for a few moments, then sauntering on and 
taking a circuit around by the rocks on their 
way back to the lawn, they came upon Miss de 
Grey and Miss Rutherford, who, with Mrs. Gen. 
Leighton, Mrs. Judge Walton, and several other 
notable matrons, were superintending the wait- 
ing-men and maids in the disposition of the 
tables, that, already covered with spotless dam- 
ask and surmounted with a profusion of flowers, 
cut-glass, and silver, contrasted gaily with their 
green and rocky surroundings. 

Counsellor Black, entirely too ponderous with 
law for tennis or any of the light games all 
around, was standing near Selma ; her fair, kind 
face lit up by one of the most lovable smiles. 


Did I Not Tell You He Is Deep?'' 197 


and her eyes of deep violet, that in his presence 
grew deeper in hue, having evidently more at- 
tractions for him. 

“ I find myself greatly interested in the peo- 
ple,” remarked the count to Frank, as they 
found themselves again on the lawn. “ That 
tall, slender gentleman, for instance, with the 
long, straggling gray hair, and with a fishing-rod 
in his hand, — who may he be. Miss Bowers ? ” 

Frank was talking so merrily with Conyng- 
hame she did not hear the count s question. 

‘‘ His name is Addison,” replied Breta, an- 
swering for her. “He is half- artist, half-phi- 
losopher, and all fisherman. He paints trout to 
the life, and his pictures sell faster than he can 
finish them.” 

“ I purchased a couple of them yesterday ; 
they are quite wonderful in their way,” said de 
Grey, with his quietest manner. “ They hang 
in the dining-room ; you may recollect them, 
Gueret.” 

“ Oh, those,” returned the count ; “ yes, I see. 
And, Miss Garnet, that strikingly pretty girl 
now talking with your trout-artist, — the young 
lady all brown as to hair and eyes, — who may 
she be ? ” 


igS The Benefit of the Doubt 

One of Miss Rutherford’s pupils, Miss Sadie 
Burrill,” responded Breta ; one of Miss Ruth- 
erford’s very best pupils.” 

“ And the belle of the school,” added Frank, 
turning from Conynghame to the count. 

‘‘ The vivid rosiness of her lips and cheeks 
and the bright sparkle of her hazel eyes war- 
rant the choice. But Miss Rutherford’s school 
is rich in belles, I find. Is that young lady stand- 
ing beside Miss Burrill, with the blonde hair, 
who has been looking this way so often, and is 
now examining the falls through Mr. Addison’s 
Claude Lorraine glass, — is she also one of Miss 
Rutherford’s belles ? ” 

“ Tti as le dzs” replied Frank, laughing. She 
is Miss Pella Morton. Would you like an in- 
troduction to her. Count Gueret ? ” asked Frank, 
with mischievous eagerness. 

“You are too kind,” returned the count, in 
French. 

“Going up to Breta, under pretence of ad- 
justing the pretty bow at her throat, she whis- 
pered : “ Keep Col. Conynghame with you, 
under penalty of death, while I ship the count,” 

The bilious count was entirely carried away 
by the Grecian features, spotless complexion, 


Did I Not Tell You He Is Deep? ” 


199 


and blonde beauty of Pella. This Frank saw 
with a feeling akin to rapture, as, leaving him 
with her, she returned to Breta and de Grey, 
Conynghame meeting her half way, and the four 
then, as with one accord, wandered off into the 
shade of the woods and down by the river, Miss 
Rutherford saying as they passed her : We 
are to breakfast at nine, and we dine at 
three.” 

“ Do you believe in ghosts. Col. Conyng- 
hame ? ” abruptly asked Frank. They were sit- 
ting on the trunk of a fallen tree in view of the 
falls, and had been cosily conversing on various 
topics of interest. 

Do you believe in ghosts. Miss Bowers t ” 
returned Conynghame, lifting his mental hat to 
Frank, not in the least taken aback by the un- 
expected question. 

'' Most solemnly I do.” 

“ Then most solemnly I also do,” said 
Conynghame. 

Then you do believe in ghosts ? ” insisted 
Frank. 

“ I never saw one. Miss Bowers.” 

Did you ever hear one, or any thing super- 
natural ?” enquired Frank. 


200 The Benefit of the Doubt 

Nor ever heard, or saw sight or sound but 
that could be easily accounted for ? 

‘‘ I wish I could arrive at what you really do 
believe, Col. Conynghame,” urged Frank, with 
a laugh. 

''A confession of faith! Well, then, I be- 
lieve we have overhead one of the most charm- 
ing skyscapes, and at our feet one of the most 
picturesque landscapes, and sitting beside me 
two of the most lovely — ” 

Oh, I do not mean that,'' broke in Frank ; 
that, of course, I know I am wonderfully hand- 
some ; my glass tells me that ; what is called a 
striking girl — though I never struck any one 
to my recollection, — and that my friend Breta 
here is lovely beyond description ; my eyes tell 
me that. But what I like to get at is what peo- 
ple really are. I know what Breta is, and I 
know what Mr. de Grey thinks and believes." 

‘‘Do you, Miss Bowers? If so, please tell 
me, for I really do not know myself," interposed 
de Grey. “ And as for Ralph Conynghame, 
what he really is or believes is past finding out, 
he is such a deep character." 

At this they all laughed. 

“ I see I must defend myself," said Conyng- 


''Did I Not Tell You He Is Deep? 


201 


hame, ‘‘ from the profundity aspersion by affirm- 
ing that since I learned that the thousandth 
trituration of a grain of any drug is more potent 
to cure than the grain itself, I have grown so 
catholic in my beliefs that I am ready to en- 
dorse ghosts or any thing else. In fact, the 
philosophy of ghosts is the philosophy of homoe- 
opathy carried to its ultimate, is it not ? For as 
the thousandth trituration of a grain of mercury 
can contain no perceivable particle of the drug 
itself, only the spirit — so to speak — of the 
drug, so the ghost of a human being being 
only the spirit, is without its crude, physical 
form. And, if we credit tradition and revela- 
tion, we must accord more power to the spirit 
out of the body than in it.'’ 

“ Did I not tell you he is deep ? ” said de 
Grey. 

“ I am glad you believe in ghosts. Col. 
Conygnhame, that is, if you do, for you will 
probably make the acquaintance of some at 
Elmwood, Mr. de Grey having bought them all 
up. But the hitch seems to be that, like Owen 
Glendower s, they will not come when he doth 
call.” 

“ They probably are sensible shadows, pre- 


202 The Benefit ofi the Doubt, 

ferring the society of ladies to that of men,’’ re- 
turned Conynghame. 

Breta and I never saw or heard one of 
them, so that cannot be,” affirmed Frank. 

Dropping shadows for something substan- 
tial,” said Breta, ‘‘ are we not overstaying our 
time, and are we not all very hungry ? ” 

It is just nine,” replied Conynghame, look- 
ing at his watch. Evidently delightful conver- 
sation has more charms for us than the pros- 
pect of a good breakfast.” 

I for one am almost famished ! ” exclaimed 
Frank, laughing, “ but I did not like to be the 
first to own it.” 

Let us return at once, on Miss Bowers’ ac- 
count,” said de Grey, offering his hand to assist 
Breta to rise. Not that I have any personal 
interest in breakfast,” he added. 

‘‘ There is brother Tom ! ” exclaimed Frank, 
as they arrived at the encampment. ‘‘ Do, Col. 
Conynghame, go with me and help rescue 
him. He looks like a stray wolf in a flock of 
sheep.” 

Brother Tom being reached and welcomed 
warmly by Frank, who had not seen him for 
two years, she introduced him to Conynghame, 


Did I Not Tell You He Is Deep?"' 203 


and then took him over to Breta, saying as she 
introduced him to her and de Grey : 

“ Brother Tom has but just returned from the 
East. Has seen the Tycoon of Japan, the 
Shah of Persia, and the Great Mogul. Has 
seen the Holy Land and the unholy land about 
the Levant, where the Turks cut people’s heads 
off, and buy and sell women. Has seen the 
pyramids and the needles and every thing worth 
seeing and every thing not worth seeing. And 
now, Tom, give an account of yourself. ‘ How’ 
long have you been here ? ” 

Give us a rest. Sis., — let me catch my breath, 
I feel so entirely taken possession of. It is 
quite cheering to find you have lost neither 
your good looks nor your habit of tormenting. 
Well, then, I have been here not over five min- 
utes. The conductor let me off at the flae 
station about a half a mile below, and directed 
me to Glen Falls,” replied Tom, with so much 
of his sister’s expression and features that they 
might have been taken for twins, except that 
Tom had some three years more over his head. 

'' Come with me, Tom, and I will take you 
to pay your respects to Miss Rutherford,” said 
Frank. 


204 Benefit of the Doubt. 

“ Thank you, Sis., you must take good care 
of me now, for I was beginning to feel, like the 
lost Pleiad, in this strange crowd,” responded 
her brother. 

‘‘ I beg you will return with your sister, Mr. 
Bowers, for she is under a positive engagement 
to appear at the breakfast-table with me,” urged 
Conynghame. 

Tom, you must see that I keep all my 
engagements,” said Frank, as she took her 
brother’s arm. 

After introducing him to Miss Rutherford 
and Miss de Grey — who were on their way to 
the breakfast-tables — Frank told him she was 
going to make him acquainted with one of the 
prettiest and best girls in the world. 

If she is half so pretty as that lovely Breta 
you have always been bragging about, Sis., to 
whom I was just introduced, I shall consider 
myself a lucky dog ; for I see she is likely to 
be spoken for by that handsome, dreamy, de 
Grey.” 

‘‘ Could you see that, Tom, and in such a 
moment of time ?” 

A fellow that has been around the world 
learns to use his eyes. Sis. Why, that de Grey 


Did I Not Tell You He Is DeepN 2o5 


chap could not keep his eyes from her a mo- 
ment. He is catawampusly, as the boys call 
it, ' chewed up.' Show me the other, Sis." 

“ I see, Tom, you have not forgotten your 
classical education (I allude to modern classics) 
while abroad. Now the young lady to whom 
I am going to introduce you is also my friend ; 
and — I can tell you — is a staving fine girl." 

“ Trot her out, Sis.," said Tom ; but let me re- 
mark en passant that I see you have not grown 
rusty either in the classics — I allude to modern 
classics also." 

Tom, we are Bowers ; I the right and you 
the left Bower. No, I shall not trot her out, 
but shall trot you to her, and you must wait on 
her at breakfast and be excessively polite. 
That is she talking with that white-haired Judge 
Walton ; and Sadie Burril, let me tell you — " 

“ Oh, it is Miss Burrill, is it, of whom you 
have written to me? She is quite on the Breta 
Garnet style, I see — " 

“ No, Tom, you don't see. Wait till you are 
acquainted with her before you pass judgment 
on Sadie," replied Frank. 

At breakfast, Breta and Frank, seated next 
de Grey and Conynghame, and opposite Tom 


2 o 6 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

Bowers and Sadie Burrill, and everybody else 
seated near every one they wished to be near, 
all things went lovely. 

Among the rest of the luxuries and elegancies 
that, to borrow the expression of the old-time 
novelists, the table groaned under, was a huge 
dish of trout ; and Mr. Atkinson and his satellites 
were the heroes of the hour while the trout 
were being discussed. They had caught their 
trout at daylight, and Mr. Atkinson was showing 
some of his flies to the gentleman seated beside 
him. 

Let me see your flies and bugs, Mr. Atkin- 
son, please ? Are they June bugs ? And what 
flies do you fish with in July and August ? Do 
you impale them alive on those hooks ? How 
cruel ! I shall never eat another trout,’’ and 
Frank reached out her exquisitely modelled lit- 
tle brown hand toward Mr. Atkinson, but one 
seat from her. 

Delighted that so handsome a young lady 
should interest herself in the contents of his fly- 
book, he leaned over toward her past Conyng- 
hame, his open book in hand. 

'' They are made to resemble living flies as 
nearly as possible, you see, Miss Bowers,” said 


'‘Did I Not Tell You He Is DeepN 207 


he. Trout like these little black gnats ; and in 
the twilight, these moth millers, and this — called 
the royal coachman. And on bright days they 
like this fly, the queen ; or this, called the grisly 
king.” 

'' I see, the whole royal family. How beauti- 
ful they are ! ’’ exclaimed Frank. “ What is this 
bright fellow ? ” she asked, selecting one from 
the open book before her. 

“ The scarlet ibis. Miss Bowers. It is entire- 
ly red, you see. And that dainty little fly with 
white wings and green body is the coachman ; 
similar, as to wings, to the royal coachman. It 
is a very killing fly.” 

And these with gray wings, yellow body, 
and scarlet tail ? ” 

‘'We call them the professor, — with one of 
these I caught nearly all my trout this morning. 
You see we do not use June bugs, Miss Bow- 
ers.” 

“ And these, Mr. Atkinson, — these sprawly 
little black things without wings ? ” 

“ These, Miss Bowers, are hackles. Trout 
probably take them for some kind of spider. 
They are very killing at times.” 

Much interested in the flies, Frank called 


2 o 8 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

Bretas attention to them, but her head was 
turned toward General Leighton, who was talk- 
ing to her with great earnestness, de Grey 
also listening. So Frank showed them to 
Sadie, across the glitter of cut glass and the 
perfume of heliotrope, pansies, and roses. 


XIII. 


^STHETICISM, 


N the archery ground, after breakfast, the 



contest ran high, when a new impetus 
was given to the efforts of the contestants 
by Dunraven, who had just arrived with Mr. 
Whyte. 

It was soon found to be useless to draw a 
bow against the skill of Dunraven, whose ar- 
rows, as though they were birds with con- 
sciousness in their winged flight, were sure to 
find the centre each time one left his bow. 

And so easily did he effect his success, his 
superior height, breadth of chest and shoulders, 
and commanding grace all showing to such ad- 
mirable advantage, that all around him seemed 
quite dwarfed and of little account in his pres- 
ence. 

“ Like poor old Uncle Ned, I shall have to 
‘ give up de fiddle an’ de bow ’ — oh — oh ! ” 


209 


2 10 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

exclaimed Frank, with a brilliant look and laugh 
as she laid aside her quiver and bow. I was 
quite distinguishing myself, Mr. Dunraven, un- 
til you so mercilessly extinguished me with 
your sharp-shooting.” 

Dunraven bow.ed and smiled, showing a set 
of teeth as strong, white, and even as those of 
a young royal Bengal tiger. 

Selma was saying something to her brother, 
and little Nellie Bowers and Gracie Gay had 
just run up to Breta to tell her for the tenth 
time that morning what a perfectly splendid 
time they were having, when Dunraven crossed 
over to Breta and offered her his arm “for a short 
promenade,” he said, as he towered down over 
her with a grand chivalrous air that proclaimed : 
“ All I am, all I achieve, I lay at your feet.” 

Breta walked with him for a little, until, de- 
claring herself fatigued, she sat on the camp- 
chair he offered her under a great tree ; he 
throwing himself gracefully at her feet on a 
grassy projection formed by the root of the 
tree, and supporting himself with careless ease 
on one elbow. 

He made himself wonderfully interesting (as 
he could) in an animated taking-her-by-storm 


yEstheticism. 


21 I 


way, giving- her the details of some recent 
doings at her aunt’s in London ; reading aloud, 
with amusing commentaries, portions of her 
aunt’s letter that he had just that morning re- 
ceived. 

Your Aunt Jane is eagerly anxious to see 
you, Breta. Shall I write her that you will 
some day soon make her a visit with me ? ” 
asked Dunraven, so lightly that his meaning in 
the coupling himself with her was covered by 
the assumed indifference of his tone. 

I fear not, Noel,” replied Breta, with quiet 
decision, but also with a wistful, .pleading look 
in her tender eyes, that he seemed to lack the 
last fine instinct to heed. 

Do not trouble yourself to say more just 
at present, Breta mia^' returned he, quickly. 
“ But recollect, carissima, you have long ago 
given me the benefit of the doubt,” and he 
laughed lightly and musically ; but with all his 
airiness he was watchfully mindful of the least 
change in the varying expression of her face. 

“ Let London go,” said he, as Breta made no 
reply, and he swept the arm on which he was 
not leaning, in a graceful semicircular curve 
from him, “ Italy remains, — warm, sunny. 


2 1 2 The Beiiefit of the Doubt, 

song-loving Italy. You can never get away 
from the recollection of the old Italian days, 
Breta.’' 

'‘Never,” replied Breta, gently, the wistful 
look returning to her eyes. 

“ And all that old Italian life is so minutely 
inwoven with your unworthy cousin Noel, that 
with your affection for Italy, for Milan, there 
must also be some little affection for him, cara 
Breta ? ” 

“ You are right, Noel, — a great deal of affec- 
tion for him,” returned Breta, her tone almost 
sad in its quietness. 

“And now we will talk no more of your 
cousin, Noel Dunraven,” said he, lightly, adroitly 
changing the subject. “ I will tell you a curious 
incident.” And again he interested her by a 
graphic description of his meeting with a cer- 
tain New York celebrity. 

Breta listened, sustaining her part of the con- 
versation with the same pitying gentleness that 
Frank had so often observed and marvelled at 
when she had seen her talking with Dun- 
raven. 

Just then Mr. Whyte came up, and at a 
glance saw how pale Breta had grown, and 


j^theticism. 


213 


divined the cause, — that last fine instinct he 
never lacking. 

“Noel,” said he, “Gen. Leighton would like 
you to give him some facts as to the present 
condition of social aestheticism abroad. Will 
you ? ” 

Secretly flattered that so distinguished a mili- 
tary character should seek information of him, 
Dunraven was yet more unwilling to lose the 
present opportunity for a prolonged interview 
with Breta, but Breta herself decided the 
matter by saying : 

“ Of course, Noel will. Let us go at once, 
Uncle Ray. See, Gen. Leighton looks this way 
and expects us,” and as she put her arm 
through her uncle’s, he felt that she was per- 
ceptibly trembling. Tacitly acknowledging the 
little odd, grateful look she gave him, at once 
appealing and imperative, by one of his twisted 
smiles, they all three proceeded (little Mr. 
Whyte looking like one of Gulliver’s Lillipu- 
tians beside the young giant, his nephew) to 
where Gen. Leighton had a little court around 
him. M. Dupont, a French diplomat; Judge 
Walton, Squire Atwood, Counsellor Black, 
Count Gueret, and others of less note, were all 


2 1 4 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

seated on camp-chairs, projections of rock, or 
stumps of trees, discussing political questions 
and enjoying the busy scene on the lawn before 
them. 

Dunraven, handing Breta a chair beside her 
uncle, stood himself, giving his information with 
such an understanding of his subject, that little 
by little he found himself delivering a lecture 
to the general’s lead. 

They were on a grassy eminence overlook- 
ing the lawn, and as Dunraven proceeded, 
group after group came to listen ; until finally 
a well-packed semicircle was formed in front 
of the rocky rostrum on which he stood, all at- 
tentive to his elegantly chosen words and gest- 
ures. 

Dating the modern aesthetic movement, the 
English Renaissance, from the Gothic revival 
and Pre-Raphaelistic association that sprang 
from Ruskin’s teachings, he said the movement 
might be called the Decorative Revival, as the 
whole effort was simply a revolt from the prevail- 
ing ugliness everywhere manifested, in favor of 
the worship of the beautiful. He affirmed that 
the realization of the ideal was becoming daily 
more manifest in home-adornment, dress, and 


u^stheticism. 


2i5 


all the higher forms of art as well, through the 
impetus given by the aesthetic movement ; that 
the realm of taste, with beauty for queen, en- 
shrining perfection of form and color, was at 
last finding a realization in absolute unity of 
conception. The sun-flower and lily school 
with their utterly-utterisms, their precious-pre- 
ciousness, intense-intensities, and hollow-hol- 
lownesses, he ridiculed as belonging to the spuri- 
ous outgrowth of fashionable pretence. He 
gave a number of utterly-utter anecdotes that 
elicited peals of laughter. He quoted Ruskin, 
Keats, Shelley, and also the professedly aesthetic 
authorities ; and wound up by saying that until 
Ruskin, holding up Turner as an example, had 
insisted that nature was the only model to study 
and copy, young artists were being taught to 
copy solely from the lifeless models of the acad- 
emies ; which was equivalent to insisting that 
young poets and musicians should copy mas- 
ters in verse or music instead of striking out 
new fields for themselves, which, alas ! for their 
readers and hearers, many had already done 
and were doing. And here he provoked 
another laugh by the way he said it. 

Various were the remarks elicited by the 


2 1 6 The Bemjit of the Doubt, 

aesthetic lecture, Gen. Leighton expressing him- 
self as having enjoyed it greatly ; and many 
went up to Dunraven, shaking hands with him 
and congratulating him for so pleasant a diver- 
sion. 

“ Oh ! is n’t he a perfect love ? ” exclaimed 
Miss Beebe to her companion, Miss Rivers. 

That is the ninety-ninth time you Ve said 
it,” returned the amiable Miss Rivers. 

“ I certainly never saw such exquisitely 
graceful attitudes nor heard so fine a voice in 
any speaker before in all my life,” affirmed Lina 
Beebe. 

You had better tell him so and done with 
it. There he goes with Miss de Grey.” 

“ Oh, he knows it well enough.” 

“ Yes, and your admiration won’t help you 
one jot, Lina Beebe ; I can tell you that. Breta 
Garnet is his little game.” 

“ Anybody could tell, Clara Rivers, that you 
had a lot of rowdy brothers at home by the 
way you talk. Of course Breta Garnet is his 
attraction. She s just too lovely for any thing, 
and every one is attracted to her. Yes, and 
Noel Dunraven will be the one to get her in 
spite of Mr. de Grey and every one else. It is 


.^theticism. 


217 


the steadily persistent, never dashed by rebuffs, 
who win the day.” 

You are mighty pat with Mr. Dunraven’s 
name, Lina. But whoever gets him it won’t 
be you,” asserted Miss Rivers. 

Of course it won’t be me, you spiteful thing. 
I have just barely been introduced to him, and I 
never expect to be any better acquainted with 
him. You and Pella Morton would make a — 
not good span, for you would chew each other 
up like the Kilkenny cats. If anybody can stand 
you, I can ; for I don’t care a button what you 
say,” and Lina Beebe laughed merrily. 

By this time Noel Dunraven’s speech might 
wellnigh have been forgotten, there were so 
many passing things to interest and attract ; but 
Squire Atwood was still growling to any one he 
could get to listen to him about ‘‘ this sort of 
thing.” He said it was ‘‘ all bosh ” ; that no 
one could say : '' Take such an attitude, look 
thus, wear such a dress, and you will express 
intensity of soul. No one,” carped the squire, 
“ can set up a standard of thought or feeling. 
It — this modern sesthetic nonsense — is an ex- 
travagant and distorted outgrowth of a truly 
great and much-needed reform started into life 


2 1 8 The Benefit of the Donbt. 

by John Ruskin, who never dreamed of the 
hideous thing that was going to be shadow- 
ing and confounded with his teachings, any 
more than Keats or Shelley dreamed of what 
their verses could be tortured into And now 
it is creeping over to this country, — this spuri- 
ous thing, that has never done any thing really 
for the furtherance of true art, — to spoil our 
manners, vitiate our taste, and corrupt our 
morals, as it has done abroad.” 

But no one paid much heed to the squire, as 
he was so well known to be a cynic, who was 
always snarling on the opposition side. 

The day was progressing, and Dunraven, 
finding he could not get another opportunity 
with Breta apart from de Grey, vanished from 
the grounds. 

It was half past four o’clock ; the guests had 
all dined, and so sumptuously that even Squire 
Atwood had become smooth and smiling. 

Of a sudden came a vivid flash of lightning 
and a heavy clap of thunder. 

A man, clad in homespun blouse and butter- 
nut trousers, mounted on a horse and leading 
another, appearing as though dropped down 
from the clouds as precursor to the threatened 
rain, spoke as from a rostrum : 


^stheticism. 


219 


Ladies and gents/' said he, '‘you will have 
to make tracks up to my house as fast as you 
kin git up and git. I 'm farmer Crowley, and 
own all about here. My house is big, and will 
hold the hull on you. That air rain will be 
down on us in the shake of a sheep’s tail. 
Pete, my man, said it wa’n’t goin’ to rain ; but 
I jest went fur Pete bald-headed, and ef he 
did n’t gear up quicker ’n lightnin’, you bet ! 
And here I am with them bosses to pull up yer 
waggin of vittles inter my barn. And, ladies 
and gents, when your carriages come back from 
Lea they can pick you up at my house, jest up 
on the hill there. But you ’d all better git.” 

All started for the farmer’s house without 
waiting for a second invitation, another sharp 
flash of lightning and the large loose rain drops 
serving as so many notes of warning ; the wait- 
ers, piling the baskets and packages of ladies’ 
wraps and belongings, with little attention to 
order, into the covered wagon, while the farmer 
was putting to his horses, waiters and farmer 
rode merrily up into the great barn of the 
farm. 

The rain, seeming to understand the neces- 
sity of the case, held off for a little. And just 


2 20 The Benefit of the DoubL 

as the party were all fairly housed, it came 
down in torrents, — a bucketful seemingly to 
each drop, — the lightning flashing and the thun- 
der crashing and rolling, while the sky became 
black almost as night. 

Suddenly as the thunder-shower came up 
just as suddenly it subsided. And in less than 
two hours the whole party were standing out in 
the sunshine preparing to get into the carriages 
before the door of farmer Crowley’s home- 
stead. 

“Where is Nelly Bowers? She was here 
but a moment ago,” said Miss Rutherford, who 
was counting heads. 

“ I was just now conversing with Miss Nel- 
ly,” remarked de Grey, casting his eyes around. 

“ Nelly was asking us something about the 
trains,” added Breta. The “ us ” sounded very 
suggestive, Frank thought, but she did not 
comment on it then, but instead suddenly ex- 
claimed : 

“ That is her voice ; Nell, is screaming for me. 
She ’s down on the railroad track,” and Frank 
dashed off across the road in the direction of 
the call, Breta hastening after her, followed by 
de Grey and Conynghame. 


^stheticism. 


221 


The piping demand for “ Frank ’’ brought her 
to the railroad, that for several miles ran along 
what was called the “ dug- way.’' Down in this 
dug-way was Nell., vainly striving to climb up 
the slippery clay of its steep bank, that had been 
converted into a thick paste by the rain. 

“ Here, Nell., catch hold of my scarf! ” And 
Frank, impetuously unwinding her long scarf 
from her shoulders as the others came up to her, 
threw the end of it to Nelly. But, unfortunate- 
ly, standing too near the edge, a portion of the 
soft bank crumbled away from under her feet, 
and she caught hold of Breta’s hand to steady 
herself. 

Slipping more and more, de Grey, think- 
ing to save both from sliding down the bank, 
leaned forward and grasped Breta’s arm. But 
the impetus already gained by Frank was too 
great, and in much less tinue than it has taken 
to narrate the disaster, all three were sliding 
rapidly down the embankment. 

That accomplished, the question arose, after 
a certain amount of inevitable laughter, what 
was to be done ? 

Frank suggested ropes ; and Conynghame, 
from the top, looking up and down each way. 


222 


The Benefit of the Doubt. 


said he could see no break in the banks on either 
side of the road. 

No, Ralph,” replied de Grey, '' it is one in- 
terminable sliding-plane as far as the eye can 
reach, and, as Miss Bowers proposes, ropes seem 
to be the only remedy.” 

'' I will go at once to the farm-house — ” 

“ Perhaps the farmer has a balloon,” inter- 
rupted Breta. 

A balloon by all means, Ralph,” assented 
de Grey. 

“ Here comes Mr. Bowers, he may suggest 
something,” said Conynghame from his height 
above them. 

“ We are down here, Tom ! ” exclaimed 
Frank. 

‘‘ So I perceive. Sis.,” he replied, looking down 
over the inclined plane. “ Is it pleasant down 
there ? ” 

‘‘ Stop your fooling, Tom, and help Col. 
Conynghame devise a plan for getting us out, 
that we need not be compelled to walk all the 
way to Lea on railroad ties. A motion has 
been made and seconded for ropes and another 
for a balloon.” 

Stop your laughing. Sis., and listen. About 


j^stheticism. 


223 


a quarter of a mile below this are steps leading 
up to a platform ; a flag-station, you know, 
colonel. I walked here from that flag-station 
this morning, and know all about it. You will 
have a short promenade in that sequestered 
valley, some rough steps to ascend, and I will 
have a carriage at the platform for you before 
you get there.” 

“ We shall owe you an eternal debt of grati- 
tude, Mr. Bowers,” said de Grey. “ Ralph, will 
you go with Mr. Bowers, or, returning to your 
boyish sports, take a slide down the bank and 
join us ? ” 

Boyish sports have a powerful charm for 
me. I will join you, Joslyn. Excuse me. Bow- 
ers,” and planting his heel firmly in the yield- 
ing clay, Conynghame contrived to take a few 
steps and then slid the rest of the way, and on 
his safe arrival there was another laugh. 

‘‘ I will assuage Miss Rutherford’s fears and 
be at the platform in time,” exclaimed Tom 
Bowers, as he- hurried off laughing. 

“You little witch, how did you ever man- 
age to get down here ” asked Frank of her 
sister. 

Nelly, standing big-eyed during the scene. 


2 24 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

her white dress and cardinal sash so deeply 
dyed with yellow clay that she appeared rather 
stylishly trimmed with the fashionable old-gold 
color, replied that she heard the cars whistle 
and thought she could run and see them pass 
and get back in plenty of time for the carriages ; 
but leaning over too far, as the cars passed, she 
had slipped and rolled down the bank. 

While Nelly was explaining, they were laugh- 
ing and walking merrily on, taking the ties, 
some of which near together and some far 
apart made the avoidance of the mud quite a 
science. 

Miss Nelly,” said de Grey, giving her his 
hand to help her spring over a wide pool, 
you were very wise in taking your slide after 
the train had gone by instead of before.” 

''Oh, don’t, Mr. de Grey! You make me 
shudder ! Don’t pile up the agony ; we pass 
our whole lives on the fence of life. I never 
like to look on the dark side of the fence until I 
am compelled to,” returned Frank. 

" I came very near the dark side of the fence 
once,” observed Conynghame ; and he related 
an incident in his war experience that was very 
thrilling. 


^stheticism. 


225 


“ I often wonder whether the bright or the 
dark side preponderates, but conclude for the 
bright side,” said Breta. 

“The bright side of life without a question,” 
acquiesced de Grey, helping Breta over a muddy 
rivulet into which she had nearly slipped. 

“ There comes a train, I hear it whistle! ” ex- 
claimed Frank. 

“ And from around this curve! ” and de Grey 
sprang lightly to the opposite track, and ran 
partly up the bank. “The train is coming on 
your track, Ralph. Get the ladies over on this 
side, and as quickly as possible,” urged he from 
his slippery point of observation. 

The train thundered by just as they were all 
fairly on the opposite track. “ Another dark 
side escaped,” Frank said. And then, on round- 
ing the curve, they were in sight of the plat- 
form and of Tom Bowers, who was sitting on 
the driver’s seat of a carriage with Sadie Burrill 
beside him. 

And a merrier party of six (with a very silent 
child of eleven, wrapped in a carriage rug to 
keep her from taking cold) never drove home 
after a thunder-shower from a picnic. 

Upon leaving the feminine portion of the 


2 26 The Be 7 iejit of the Doubt. 

carriage-load at the seminary, de Grey insisted 
so strenuously that Bowers should return with 
him and Ralph to Elmwood, instead of going 
to a hotel, as Bowers intended, that he was 
forced to comply. 


XIV. 


THE BLACK ART. 


HERE were numerous workmen engaged 



X in resuscitating the grounds and house 
at Elmwood. And although the plan was 
for the most part de Grey’s, Selma was so 
enthusiastic in helping him carry it out, that 
the engineering process came finally to devolve 
as much on her as on him. 

And to carry out their plans with ample ad- 
vice, the three young ladies from the seminary 
(and Count Gueret’s especial admiration — ^Miss 
Morton also) were invited to spend all the time 
at Elmwood that Miss Rutherford could spare 
to them ; and vehicles were kept going back 
and forth in the liveliest manner, — the gentle- 
men all remaining indefinitely. 

Weeds disappeared like magic ; trellises 
came upright ; vines seemed to train them- 
selves, so orderly and systematically did the 


227 


2 28 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

workmen progress. No one was disturbed ; 
but all entered into the spirit of the enterprise 
with so much zest, that it was like a continuous 
holiday. 

The young ladies spent all of their Saturdays 
with Selma, and on the first of these Saturdays 
the Cupids, Venuses, Mercuries, and Apollos, 
with the other heathen deities, were made 
smiling and happy in the amount of sympathy 
and assistance to an upright standing again in 
the world they received from so many profes- 
sional workers and so many lookers on. 

Selma’s hospitality was boundless, and as 
gracefully and tactfully bestowed as it was 
munificent. 

All were out in the park after dinner on this 
first Saturday, and were grouped around the 
sculptor and the garden artist, who, with their 
men, were unravelling a certain complicated 
classical story. Frank and her brother were 
loitering on their way toward them. 

“ I assure you. Sis., that your friend Miss 
Sadie Burrill is one of the most delightfully 
agreeable young ladies I ever met. And as 
for that Prince Conyghame of yours — ” 

“ Of mine ! Now, Tom, don’t go off on your 


The Black Art. 


229 


hobby-horse at so keen a gallop ; you may 
throw yourself.” 

“ Oh, now, Frank, don’t. Any one with half 
an eye can see that Prince Conynghame is soft 
on you, and — ” 

“ There, Tom, don’t fatigue yourself with 
conjecture. If you are fishing to know what I 
think of him, I can tell you. He is not one 
whit like us to begin with. We Bowers are all 
splurgists, and Col. Conynghame takes time to 
use his brain and think. I admire him exces- 
sively because he thinks, and because he is so 
polished — unlike us again — -and — ” 

“ I ’ll have my revenge yet, Sis., if you have 
gone me one better this time. But I say, 
Frank, dare I mention that our goatee’d count, 
with his saffron face, is dead sweet on that pale, 
Grecian-profiled Miss — what-is-her-name ? ” 

“ And a good match they are, that is all I can 
advance,” said Frank, abruptly. 

“ I see. Sis., you do not admire your friend. 
Miss Pella.” 

“ Never you mind, Tom, whom I admire. But 
Tom, whatever we Bowers are, we are ladies 
and gentlemen, with the true instincts and fine 
conceptions of ladies and gentlemen, and, what 


230 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

is more, we have consciences and hearts. We 
are a trifle slang-y, and that (and Frank, soften- 
ing, laughed), but, — well. Miss Morton does not 
number among my friends. She is the friend 
of no one but herself — al solito per se!' 

‘‘ Yes, I remember you have been studying 
both Italian and Latin, Sis. And after agree- 
ing with you that we Bowers are ladies and 
gentlemen — why, Sis., you are one of the most 
aristocratic and lady-like-looking girls I ever 
met at home or abroad, — I will add : Mole ruit 
sua, and if Molly don’t rue it sure, Pella will 
shu-a. She ’ll Be ‘ crushed by the weight ’ of 
your displeasure.” 

'‘Oh, Tom, you cannot crush me that way, 
I ’ve been studying French too : 

“ ‘ CV moiide est pleine de fous, et qui en veut pas voir^ 

Doit se renfe7'mer seul^ et casser son miroir.* 

But to tell you the truth, Tom,” continued his 
sister, her mischievous smile subsiding, “ a few 
lan^uao[-es and a little music are all I do know. I 
don’t know grammar ; Miss Rutherford cannot 
pound it into my head. I have a vague smat- 
tering of some of the ologies, am pretty well 
up in literature and rhetoric, but as for arithme- 


The Black Art. 


231 


tic — I do not know even the multiplication ta- 
ble. And, Tom, I leave school next month — 
my education completed. Is it not horrible ? 
This is between us, Tom.'’ 

“ Locked up safe here,” said Tom, laying 
his hand melodramatically on his heart. “• But 
to think what Prince Conynghame has before 
him. He will have to regularly invest in slates, 
pencils, and spelling-books, and set up school. 
But, I say. Sis., is this universal in Miss Ruther- 
ford’s school? Your friend Miss Burrill, for in- 
stance ? Is she also — shall I have to — ” 

“ No, Tom, not a bit of it. Sadie knows it 
all, and how she has contrived It I cannot tell ; 
and the charming part of it is that no one would 
dream she knows so much, she is so modest 
and unassuming, and so — ” 

“Hold on, Frank, do! I am bad off enough 
now. Don’t make matters v/orse with me by 
such wholesale praise of her. So, she ’s 
regularly sapped, is she ? — as we used to say in 
college.” 

“ Yoic are regularly sapped, Tom, and in a 
different sense from what your college means : 
Sapientia prima est shdtitid caruisse, as Horace 
says.” 


232 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

'‘As bad as* that, Sis.? But if Miss Burrill 
has the sapientia prima that will ‘ exempt her 
from folly,' it will not make so much matter 
about me, you know." 

“ Miss Burrill is not to be joked about, Tom ; 
she is too good for jokes or jokers." 

“ That is what I am afraid of, Frank, for it is 
serious with me, I assure you." 

“ Miss Rutherford is prouder of Miss Burrill 
than of any other pupil in her school, and widi 
good reason." 

“Miss Rutherford is not proud of you. Sis.? " 

“ I am afraid she 's not. But that is not 
strange, I being your sister, you know, Tom." 

“ Hit him again. Sis., he 's got no friends. 
But come, let us go over there where those 
marble ladies and gentlemen are thickest, and 
join Miss de Grey and the others before I am 
utterly extinguished." 

Rising from the luxurious seat in the pretty, 
renovated summer-house, where they had been 
resting, Frank started on by the side of her 
brother. 

“ Here comes Prince Conynghame after you," 
said he. “Jove! what a brow I and what a 
presence ! and what a bang-up tie ! I thought 


The Black Art. 


233 


I could tie a cravat, but he beats me out of sight ; 
I see I shall have to give up my little Sis., my 
playmate of so many years. It is not in the 
heart of woman to withstand such a tie as that.” 

‘'Bear in mind, Tom, I owe you one, and 
when it comes it will be a scorcher.” 

“ The sword of — what-do-you-call-him sus- 
pended over my head by a long black hair.” 

“ ‘ The Sword of Bunker Hill,’ perhaps you 
mean, Tom,” and Frank, turning to Conyng- 
hame, said : “ I am glad you came, Col. Conyng- 
hame. Tom here is getting quite dangerous. 
First he laughs at you, then he laughs with 
you, until you do not know whether you are 
yourself or some one else.” 

“ And his sister is the sister of her brother, I 
assure you, Col. Con)mghame. I was just im- 
agining myself the hero of that Damoclean 
feast and fancying his feelings.” 

“Cousin Selma is studying out a little garden 
story. Miss Bowers, and she wishes your and 
your brother’s opinion before she decides,” said 
Conyngharlie, lifting his mental hat, with a smile 
to sister and brother, his faultless summer straw 
being already in his hand as he stood before 
Frank. 


2 34 Benefit of the Doubt, 

The story was made out and coincided with 
that of the sculptor. The count, having seen 
much garden decoration in France, helped de- 
cide the positions of the various mythological 
groupings ; and at last, all satisfactorily arranged, 
the sculptor, who had engaged to supply miss- 
ing noses, fingers, or arms, with a composition 
which would “ so closely resemble the old 
marble that the most practised eye could not 
detect the breaks,'’ proved his assertion by re- 
storing then and there to a Cupid, from the 
models he had previously made, a lost arm. 

Very fine ! " said the count critically. 

Be-e-autiful ! " exclaimed Pella, ecstatically. 

Quite equal to Praxiteles' famous Cupid, 
over which the world has gone so wild — al- 
though I must confess to not knowing whether 
I even saw it when I was in Rome, I saw so 
many things, or whether it is there now or not. 
It was carried there from Greece, I believe, and 
this Cupid is very possibly it,” said Frank, de- 
murely. 

‘‘We expect garden statuary to be good, as 
this is, the best of its kind, but we do not ex- 
pect it to equal classical statuary,” said the 
sculptor, good-humoredly. He spoke to Miss 


The Black Art, 


235 

de Grey, but showed by the smile that widened 
his mouth and twinkled in his eyes that he 
well understood the remark of the last young 
lady who spoke was aimed exclusively at the 
ecstatic young lady, and not at his work. 

Leaving the sculptor overseeing his men, the 
party sought other parts of the grounds, and 
Selma, turning to speak to Breta, whom she 
supposed quite near, saw her wandering off 
with her brother toward the elms that shaded 
the natural fountain. 

i Other groups of two, Frank and Conyng- 
hame, Tom Bowers and Sadie, Pella and the 
count, all strolling over the grounds, were 
blending harmoniously with the beautiful shrub- 
bery. 

Selma, as she went on toward the house with 
Mr. Black on one side of her and Mr. Whyte 
on the other, rested her eyes with fond com- 
placency on Breta s graceful form, with its pretty 
drooping shoulders, as Breta walked with such 
a firm, easy carriage beside her handsome 
brother. 

‘‘ You ask me to give you some idea of my 
— the Rosicrucian — philosophy, Miss Garnet,” 
said this handsome brother of Selma’s, looking 


236 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

down into Breta’s thoughtful eyes. One 

writer says : ‘ The subject of Alchemy was 
man.’ Another writer (Eyrenaeus) says : ‘ Our 
gold is not to be bought for money, though you 
should offer a crown or a kingdom for it, for it 
is the gift of God.’ ” 

“ Then their gold — the philosopher’s stone — 
was not gold, the sordid metal, but — I see, Mr. 
de Grey,” said Breta. “ Uncle Ray was telling 
me something of it the other day.” 

'' Hosts of self-seekers,” continued de Grey, 
smiling at Breta’s earnestness, “ taking the sym- 
bolical language of the Hermetic writers liter- 
ally (they were obliged to cover up their true 
meaning under symbols, as in those dark ages 
religious tolerance, or tolerance of any kind, 
was unknown) wasted years in trying to find a 
material agent that would transmute the baser 
metals into material gold. It was these char- 
latans who brought alchemy and the alchemists 
into such disrepute. In these days we can 
work for the truth (gold) openly, but we lack 
the self-denying workers that those Rosy-cross- 
men of the Middle Ages were, who suffered 
privation, persecution, and martyrdom to one 
end : the furtherance of science and the 


The Black Art 


237 


emancipation of man from religious and politi- 
cal tyranny.” 

“ It is well worth one’s while to suffer and 
work for a great principle one’s conscience ac- 
cepts as a great truth,” returned Breta. '' And 
there is more of this done in the present day 
than the workers have credit for. It is all so 
humdrum — the present-day reform work, — and 
lacks, too, the poetry of antiquity and martyr- 
dom to make it seem effective. I have often 
wished for an opportunity to make some great, 
sacrifice and lose my life in it.” And with a 
face softly flushed with generous enthusiasm, 
Breta looked up to de Grey, asking : 

'' But about your own particular theories, Mr. 
de Grey. How is this beautiful Hermetic phil- 
osophy to aid you in regard to the reputed — the 
occurrences at Elmwood, for instance ? ” 

Looking down into the blue-gray eyes that 
were meeting his with such a charming look of 
inquiry, de Grey said : 

This subject is so little understood — al- 
though some of the profoundest scientists and 
thinkers of the age have more or less fully writ- 
ten on it — but that all who have inhabited this 
world will, some time in the cycles to come, in- 


238 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

habit it again, — but I see dissent in your face, 
Miss Garnet/’ 

Not dissent exactly — that is, I do not disbe- 
lieve, or believe. I wish to know more. Do 
you think those sounds in that house were 
caused by actual unseen presences ? ” 

‘‘ Nothing of the kind. Miss Garnet ; I look 
upon such phenomena,” and de Grey swept 
his hand over toward the house in question, 
'' as indications of the existence of the spiritual 
side of our dual life. Some process not yet 
understood (telephonic perhaps) will elucidate 
these particular mysteries, now so vague, so 
misunderstood, so dependent on mere chimeri - 
cal theories.- The time will come when, through 
some scientific conception, the cause of those 
noises — I have never yet heard them — will be 
made clear.” 

I am delighted, Mr. de Grey, that this mys- 
terious subject — I have never heard the noises 
either — is no clearer to you than it is to me. I 
see you are in doubt, as I am, and I stand 
in much less fear of you, and your philosophy 
now is much less awe-inspiring,” said Breta, 
with an upward look and smile. 

“The Rosy-cross — magic — has universally 


The Black Art 


239 


been the subject of awe ; so no wonder you 
were awed by me. But would you like to see 
my laboratory, Miss Garnet ? 

‘‘ Where you practise the Black art, Mr. de 
Grey ? ” said Breta, significantly. 

''We may as well call it by that name as by 
any other, for some of my chemical experiments 
blacken my hands so very black that, — but I 
can show you a number of interesting results at 
which I have arrived — some telephonic experi- 
ments among others.'' 

Breta speaking quite enthusiastically of her 
interest in all chemical experiments, de Grey 
suggested that they should go at once up into 
his laboratory. 

On the way he explained certain chemical 
changes by catalysis, or contact-action, wherein 
the body inducing the change in another is it- 
self unaltered. " Quite as mysterious. Miss 
Garnet, as the Elmwood noises," continued he, 
" only scientists are well used to catalysis. We 
employ it in many curious experiments ; al- 
though the cause of its action, as I said, is as 
little understood as — " 

As the mystery of our dual life perhaps," 
suggested Breta. 


240 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

As they entered the door, Selma, seeing them, 
rejoiced in her heart at the good understanding 
between them. She wished for nothing so much 
as that their evident mutual regard might pro- 
gress to a happy conclusion. 

In the evening they had some fine music, and 
Mr. Whyte playing a violin accompaniment to 
Breta s “ Voglein, was singst im wald du so 
taut?'" left the listeners in doubt which was 
violin, which was voice, or which bird. 

After singing, Breta was urging Tom Bowers 
to sing, saying his sister had told her he had 
a remarkable baritone. 

Oh, yes. Miss Garnet,'’ assented Tom ; “ a 
real barrel-tone, a double-barrelled-tone, I as- 
sure you.” 

“ Your Breta,” said Mr. Black in a rumbling 
undertone to Selma, “ would create a perfect 
furor if she were to appear in public again, — 
as she did at Milan. I never heard any thing 
like it ; and her voice is even finer now, more 
matured. Such precision in alighting on tones 
— tones so well sustained, — and such a glottis- 
stroke ! The marvel of it is how she has man- 
aged to keep up her enthusiasm and practice in 
this out-of-the-way place.” 


The Black Art, 


241 


My Breta, Benjamin, possesses the undenia- 
ble gift of song ; and love for the divine art 
has sustained her.” 

Bowers, being excessively diffident, as he 
averred, upon Breta’s urging, could not be in- 
duced to sing alone. Selecting the exquisite 
four-voiced canon from Rossini's Moise, he 
sang it with her, Frank, and de Grey. It was 
greatly applauded ; and Black asking for its 
repetition, and then again, the electrical vi- 
bration which thrills the ear from perfect accord 
was heard in its third rendering. 

A thousand thanks. Miss Garnet,” exclaimed 
Black. “ Better and better. I could listen to 
that all night.” 

‘‘ Nine hundred and ninety-nine thanks will 
serve, Mr. Black,” returned Breta. “ But just 
think how tired we should be by morning.” 

“ I always affirmed, Joslyn,” remarked Black, 
after duly acknowledging Breta’s repartee, “ that 
you have a tenor for purity of tone and com- 
pass that ’s a perfect marvel. There is no 
pleasure, after all, equal to hearing a master- 
piece well rendered.” 

Conynghame looked his enjoyment with his 
fine eyes, but said nothing, while the count 


242 The Benefit of the Doubt 

pronounced the music charming/' and Pella 
declared it was “be-e-autiful ! ” 

Mr. Whyte and de Grey gave some sonatas 
of Mozart's with violin and cello, and ten o'clock 
coming, the young ladies were conveyed back 
to the school. 


XV. 


OPERAS WILL BE LOVELY. 

ELMA found it easy on the resuscitation 



of Elmwood to engage permanently the 
servants she had employed from the village by 
the day while the place was in its ghost-invit- 
ing condition. And having conceived a project, 
that would make it perfectly delightful at Elm- 
wood, she said, and would include the getting 
up some pleasant musical entertainments, she 
set to work in earnest, with Joslyn’s and Ralph’s 
assistance, to procure a large staff of well- 
trained servants from the city as a preparatory 


step. 


“ Breta has already promised me a long visit, 
this summer, and I shall prevail upon her friends 
also to come as soon as school closes. And,” 
continued she, growing more enthusiastic, “ I 
shall prevail on Mr. Bowers and — ” 

Should we be so unfortunate, Selma, ^as to 


243 


244 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

have another war,” observed Conynghame, 
“ you would rise in this progressive age in no 
time ; that is, should you see fit to enlist. Such 
an able tactician as you have proved yourself 
is rare.” 

“ Yes,” assented de Grey, '' you and I, Ralph, 
are only lookers on in Elmwood, during all 
these revolutions, — subject merely to orders. 
But Selma was always wonderful at planning, 
and always for the greatest good of the greatest 
number.” 

'' Count me also as one of your aids, subject 
to orders. Miss de Grey,” added Bowers ; I 
likewise have always been too famous at doing 
the heavy looking on.” 

'' With three such co-operators,” said Selma, 
smiling, “ what may we not achieve ? I am 
now going to Miss Rutherford’s to invite Miss 
Bowers, Miss Burrill, and Miss Morton — Miss 
Garnet having already promised me — and would 
like the company of one of you gentlemen ; 
more than one would be entirely too formid- 
able.” 

“We shall have to draw lots,” suggested 
Bowers ; and the lot falling to Ralph, Tom said 
he was a lucky dog, and that he and de Grey 


operas will be Lovely. 245 

would have to console themselves with a game 
of billiards. 

Selma and Conynghame found the young 
ladies just through “ tea/’ and delighted with the 
unfolded plan. 

'' I am expecting my mother to be with us, 
Miss Rutherford ; and our gentlemen friends 
have consented to spend more or less of the 
summer at Elmwood,” added Selma, “ and we 
intend having the great picture-gallery convert- 
ed into an opera-house (at least so I call it) 
with stage and movable scenery. And when 
we are sufficiently well practised up in scenes 
from operas, we will have all our friends in- 
vited to listen to us ; and we can make it both 
pleasant and instructive for all.” 

“ I shall of course first write to mamma. Miss 
de Grey, but only for form’s sake,” said Frank, 
upon being appealed to, ‘‘ for mamma not only 
gives me my own way, but insists on my taking 
it.” 

I also possess a model mother of the same 
type. Miss Bowers,” remarked Ralph. 

“ I have no one to ask,” acknowledged Pella. 

I was intending to spend the summer with my 
aunt, who always goes to Saratoga ; but I am 


246 


The Benefit of the Dotibt. 


excessively tired of Saratoga, and would greatly 
prefer Elmwood — with many thanks, Miss de 
Grey.’’ 

Sadie Burrill’s father (who was an extensive 
ship-owner, and was in Havre) had left her in 
the care of Miss Rutherford (Sadie having no 
mother), and Miss Rutherford signified her ap- 
proval, being delighted that Miss de Grey had 
such a pleasant prospect in store for her. The 
school closes on the i5th of July — close at hand 
— for the vacation. The young ladies will then be 
free. Miss de Grey,” said she. 

Do you know. Colonel Conynghame,” ob- 
served Frank, demurely, “ I think it is very kind 
in Miss de Grey to burden herself with so many 
giddy girls.” 

Undoubtedly, Miss Bowers,” replied Ralph, 
with mischievous politeness, “ but you will find 
Cousin Selma not only equal to the trying or- 
deal, but hugely enjoying it.” 

“ No one need be acquainted with Selma 
long to know that her greatest pleasure lies in 
self-sacrifice,” observed Breta, with a bright 
smile. “ And the more trouble we give her the 
better she will like us and it.” 

‘‘ The self-sacrifice manifested chiefly in being 


operas will be Lovely. 247 

able to listen unruffled to jocose adulations, 
Breta,” returned Selma in her pleasant way, as 
she rose to go. 

After she and Ralph had driven off there was 
a discussion out on the veranda among those 
invited. Breta had just been saying *she re- 
called distinctly having seen Colonel Conyng- 
hame with Mr. de Trey at the opera, in Paris, 
over four years ago. 

“ Both faces once seen never to be forgot- 
ten,'’ declared Frank. “ But where was your 
not-to-be-forgotten face that they have not re- 
called — " 

'T was sitting with Uncle Ray far back in a 
proscenium box, seeing but not seen, and they 
were in the orchestra seats. The opera was 
Don Giovanni!' 

Life is full ot such curious coincidences,” 
remarked Sadie Burrill. “ Papa met Frank's 
brother in Constantinople and became well ac- 
quainted with him. 1 wrote papa all about the 
picnic (I keep him regularly posted on all that 
passes), and I have just had a letter from him 
acknowledging Mr. Bowers' acquaintance. I 
shall now inform him of Miss de Grey's kind 
invitation. He writes me that he already 


248 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

knows her from my description of her refined 
and — ” 

“ Oh, you and your letters to your father,” 
snapped Pella. “ He should get them pub- 
lished in thirteen volumes, that no one would 
ever read. Of course you descant largely on 
the perfections of this black-eyed Mr. Bowers, 
and it is so nice that they are already friends.” 

“ As you say, Pella,” returned Sadie, meet- 
ing her malicious pleasantry entirely undis- 
turbed. 

Frank laughed. 

“ Whatever any one else does, I shall go to 
Elmwood,” squealed Pella, with high-voiced 
decision, throwing a spiteful glance at Frank, 
‘‘ on the day school closes. And as for dresses, 
I have a trunk full of new ones, most of which 
are Worth’s, that brother Oscar has just sent 
me from Paris. But why Miss de Grey did 
not decide on charades and tableaux instead 
of — ” 

“ Bother charades and tableaux ! ” broke in 
Frank, “They are as old as the hills. Operas 
will be lovely.” 

“ Oh, you expect to show your voice off. 
But I can’t sing loud, showy things ; my voice 


operas will be Lovely. 249 

is too delicate in tone to be heard to advantage 
in juxtaposition with your really — if I must say 
it — blatant tones/’ returned Pella. 

“ If you can’t sing, Pella, you can get up the 
tallest growl on the shortest notice of any one I 
know. A nice time Count Gueret will have 
when he gets you.” 

“Count Gueret! A man old enough to be 
my father! You do not imagine, Frank, that 
Count Gueret will ever get me, as you elegantly 
express it,” and Miss Morton turned up her 
Greek nose quite high. 

“ My imagination is very vivid, Pella, and it 
makes me smole to see you after de Grey so — 
whth a sharp stick — and know you won’t get 
him. I imagine also we shall have an awful jolly 
time at Elmwood this summer,” and Frank 
hummed Tutto I gioj a. 

“ ' Smole ’ ! ‘ after de Grey ’ ! ‘ sharp stick ’ ! 
' awful jolly ’ ! ” sneered Pella. 

Breta lauMied, and her mood becoming con- 
tagious, they all laughed in unison, and so 
heartily that Pella, joining in, quite thawed 
out, especially as Breta assured her that parts 
she could sing should be sejected for her, as her 
voice was really very pretty and true. 


2 5o The Benefit of the Doubt 

The girls went to the class-rooms for their 
books to study their lessons, and Breta to pre- 
pare for an engagement to drive with de Grey. 
Frank, passing through the silent music-room, 
sang out in full voice : '' Quis est homo qin non 
fieret Christi matrem si videret — ” 

Miss Bowers, you improve daily,'’ said Miss 
Rutherford, as she entered the room. And if 
you could continue with Miss Garnet — ” 

“ I shall be with her all summer, Miss Ruth- 
erford, and as much longer as — well, I fully in- 
tend being with her always.” 

Miss Rutherford, with a dignified smile, re- 
marked that Miss de Grey’s guests would un- 
doubtedly have a delightful summer, and that 
Mrs. de Grey being with her, would make it 
more decorous of course, — pleasanter for all. 

That the practising for the operatic scenes 
might progress, and that Selma and her brother 
might have the multiplicity of counsel in which 
there is safety to help plan the little bijou of a 
stage, the four young ladies continued to spend 
their Saturdays and whatever other time they 
could get at Elmwood, the gentlemen all re- 
maining to assist, as they averred. 

The immense picture-gallery, in which the 


operas will be Lovely, 


25i 


miniature theatre, with its seats for five hun- 
dred raised in tiers and its pretty stage, was 
constructed, adjoined an oak-panelled dining- 
room that would accommodate tables for as 
many hundred persons, on such a grand scale 
had the mansion at Elmwood been built 
throughout. And when the carpenters were 
through their work, and the artist had painted 
and adjusted the shifting scenery, and the 
exquisite little drop-curtain was hung, and 
the chandeliers and foot-lights arranged. Black 
pronounced it as perfect a conception of the 
kind, well carried out, as he had ever seen. 

“ It is very charming,'’ said the count. 
“ Monseigneur the Marquis d’Alby has one 
very similar at his chateau, in which he has 
private theatricals enacted. I have assisted in 
them at various times." 

“ It is perfectly be-e-autiful," ejaculated 
Pella, endorsing both Selma’s and d’Alby’s 
private theatre. 

“ I hope Monseigneur the Marquis d’Alby 
enjoys his theatre as much as we shall ours, 
and with you to assist us. Count Gueret, neces- 
sarily must," rejoined Frank, in a half-mocking 
way, in French. 


2 52 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

Breta, who had been placing some crimson 
camelias in Frank’s dark hair, saw that the count 
took the saucy remark as complimentary, and 
that he was flattered by it. 

“ Cela va sans direy' said he, with his dry, 
bilious laugh, accompanied by a slight shrug of 
his shoulders and wave of his right hand. 


XVI. 


THREE KISSES. 

I T was the afternoon before school closed. 

Breta was in the music-room devoted to 
singing and considered as especially hers. She 
was overlooking Miss Rutherford’s man-of-all- 
work pile music-books and loose music in a 
box. 

I was told I should find you here, my 
dear,” said Mr. Whyte, entering the room. 

“ Yes, it is simply dreadful to have to own 
so much music when the time comes to go 
away,” returned Breta, who was down on her 
knees before the box, and she looked up at her 
uncle with a loving smile. 

“Thank you, Edward, that pile is the last,” 
continued she, rising and turning to the man in 
her gentle, graceful way. 

“ It was as much as ever, miss,” said the 
man, shutting down the lid and turning the 


253 


2 54 Benefit of the DoubL 

key. This trunk would not hold another 
note/' and he fastened the straps. Any thing 
more, Miss Garnet? " 

‘‘ Nothing more, Edward, at present. Be 
sure and tell Katie that I shall see her before I 
leave." 

‘‘ That man esteems it a great privilege to 
wait on you, my dear," said Mr. Whyte, seat- 
ing himself as Edward bowed and withdrew. 

'' I called on his wife, Katie, several times 
when she was ill. I could not do much for her ; 
but Edward has always made much of it. I am 
godmother to his little girl, you know, who is 
named for me." 

‘‘ Yes, I remember," rejoined Mr. Whyte, 
with one of his twisted smiles. ‘‘ My dear, I 
have something to say to you," added he. 

Yes, Uncle Ray." 

‘‘ But perhaps you won't like it." 

“ 1 never disliked any thing you ever said to 
me yet," asserted Breta, laughing, as she stood 
beside her uncle, passing her fingers caressingly 
through his hair. 

‘‘ Noel has been talking to me ; he will be 
here within an hour to see you. It is about 
him I wish to speak, my dear." 


Three Kisses, 


255 


“ I cannot say I like the thought of talk- 
inof about him, or of his cominor- to see me ; he 

o' O' 

has been the cause of much discomfort to me 
of late,” said Breta, growing very serious and 
seating herself beside her uncle. 

“ My dear, I have seen it, as you say, of late 
especially. Of late his conversation to me is 
entirely about you. He is very much in earnest 
— though the word earnest scarcely applies to 
Noel. He is full, with all the avoirdupois he 
carries, of the expectation that he will eventu- 
ally win you. He has not asked me in so 
many words to use my influence with you, 
he seems so confident of his own powder over 
you.” 

“ Yes, Uncle Ray ; please proceed.” 

“ My dear, I have seen so much wedded 
misery — my favorite brother, for one, was a 
victim to it ; the serpent and the dove not be- 
ing well mixed in his case — he having all the 
dove and she all the venom and cunning of the 
serpent ; and — she stung him to death.” 

“That was my Uncle George. I remember 
him well, and I remember her too. They took 
me to an exposition in Paris when I was eight 
years old, you may remember, and I was look- 


2 56 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

ing with wondering admiration at some beauti- 
ful wax dolls, not for sale. She said two words, 
‘ sour grapes,’ but I shall never forget the way 
she said them.” 

“Nothing can be better than ‘ sour grapes ’ 
to point my moral,” suggested Mr. White, with 
one of the most twisted of his twisted smiles. 
“You have only to keep so high up out of 
Noel’s reach that he can never grasp you.” 

Breta looked up at her uncle with an intent, 
questioning glance, a vague smile crossing her 
face. 

“You have a great deal of affection for Noel, 
my dear, have you not ; he is so a part of your 
bright childhood days ? ” 

“ It is a question he himself asked me a short 
time ago, and I answered yes. But he well un- 
derstood me.” 

“ That you have no warmer feeling for him ? ” 

“ He has known that since that night in Milan 
when — he went to Paris to get you out of that 
vile prison.” 

“And you were in such a hurry to pay him 
back the twenty thousand piastres as soon as 
we returned to Milan. I had to laugh to see 
how determined you were that he should take 


Three Kisses, 


267 

them ; not but that you were right, my dear, 
for you were quite right. Being indebted to 
Noel was harder to me than the Clichy — why, I 
cannot tell.” 

Perhaps you intuitively felt the indignity of 
the conditions,” said Breta, her face flushing at 
the recollection. 

Little Mr. Whyte turned his fresh boyish face 
toward Breta, his open, candid eyes regarding 
her fixedly for a moment. 

'' That, my dear, — Noel’s total lack of that last 
fine sense or instinct that comes with the sym- 
pathetic organization, is the key-note of all I 
wish to say. He knows you are of the simpat- 
ica and builds on that. He loves you with an 
overmastering passion, the outgrowth of his 
overmastering passion for himself. He is 
clever, wonderfully clever, and withal good- 
humored, a bonhomme, and entirely unscrupu- 
lous where you are concerned. Knowing you 
to be tender-hearted he will stoop to work on 
your feelings, and make you believe he will die 
if he does not get you. But he won’t die. His 
love for himself will prevent his dying for any 
one ; a good tough fibre pervades him men- 
tally as well as physically. But, lacking that 


258 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

delicate perception of what belongs to others, 
he will utterly ignore the understanding you 
speak of — of your feelings toward him, and 
will, as I have said, coerce you to his views, if 
he can ; and in the end — but never mind the 
end ; that is that end. The only way to save 
yourself, Breta, will be to come to a final issue 
with him, painful as it will be for you. There, I 
have done ! ” And Mr. Whyte got up from his 
chair, walked over toward the window, and look- 
ed out on Miss Rutherford’s thrifty grape-vines. 

Breta also rose, walked thoughtfully across 
the floor and back, and fetching up beside her 
uncle, she contemplated with him the massive 
clusters of grapes still green. 

Uncle Ray,” said she, brokenly, her eyes 
full of a deep, pathetic seriousness, I know it 
• — I have known it ; it is all true. It would be 
simply horrible ! But do not fear. He could 
never prevail on me — never. Self-sacrifice in 
that way — marrying without love, the most 
perfect love — would be to me an utter impossi- 
bility. I could give my life to save another life 
without a thought — ” 

“ As I have intimated, my dear, you are es- 
sentially of the martyr stock.” 


Three Kisses. 


259 

“Yes, Uncle Ray, you are rig-ht. I shall 
have to break with him at once. I have so 
dreaded it. I have so trusted to his sense of 
honor to consider our relations friendly only, 
that of cousins, that of sister and brother. Oh, 
he knows so well — 

Breta was interrupted .by a sudden rushing 
sound, and Frank, with the impetuosity of a 
southern gust, burst into the room. 

“ Oh, I beg pardon ! ” exclaimed she, seeing 
Mr. Whyte. “ I thought you were all alone, 
Breta.” And she was leaving the room as hur- 
riedly a^ she had entered, when Mr. Whyte 
called to her : 

“ Stay, Miss Frank, it is I who am going,” 
and stooping to kiss his niece where she still 
stood by the window (he had only a couple of 
inches to stoop, his height being so little more 
than hers), he took his leave. 

“ Breta! ” exclaimed Frank, “he — Noel Dun- 
raven — is down in the drawing-room ; has just 
come He is paying his respects to Miss Ruth- 
erford ; that is his little game — always has 
been. Now mark my words, he has come (I 
scent it in the air as the ghost of Hamlet’s 
daddy did the dawn) to bring you to the 


2 66 The Benefit of the DoubL 

scratch. Now if you marry him it will be the 
scratch — the very old scratch — 

Frank/’ interrupted Breta, in all her per- 
plexity laughing at Frank’s vehemence, “ you 
are wild ; you are at your worst, your very 
worst. Is it the full of the moon ? ” 

‘‘ Never mind the moon,” returned Frank 
energetically “ the moon is gibbous, I am cer- 
tain, and I ’ve only a moment before you ’ll be 
sent for. Now, listen : Noel Dunraven is as 
wily as a great, gigantic, esthetic fox. He ’s 
dead in love with you — as who is n’t ? But you 
can’t marry them all ; and you sha’n’t marry 
him. He will talk to you in Italian, like a Dutch 
uncle. He will poetically and aesthetically and 
pathetically bring up all your old Italian life, 
and then make you believe that he will drop 
dead at your feet if you don’t marry him. He 
will work on your sympathies until you will feel 
the only thing left to do is to make a holy mar- 
tyr of yourself and marry a great, selfish, aes- 
thetic baby that cries for the moon.” 

‘‘ Frank, if you will only stop I will promise 
you never to marry any one.” 

‘‘ But you must ; you must marry — ” 

Spare me now,” urged Breta, laughing, “ and 


Three Kisses. 


261 


I promise to marry any one you pick out. Will 
that suit you ? ” 

“ There ! Here comes Miss Rutherford ; I 
hear her stately step,” exclaimed Frank. ‘‘ I 
will vacate the audience-chamber in favor of the 
latest comer,” added she as that lady entered 
the room. And, Breta, remember, if you do 
not keep the vow you just made me I shall haunt 
you,” and Frank threw her arms around Breta 
and kissed her fervently. 

“ My dear Miss Garnet,” said Miss Ruther- 
ford as Frank hastened oft', “ Mr. Dunraven is 
in the drawing-room and wishes to see you. 
He has asked me to intercede with you in his 
behalf.” 

“ He has asked you to — ” Breta added no 
more. 

“ He is very much attached to you. I con- 
sider him an uncom7nofily fine young man. He 
is very talented — quite gifted, in fact. And he is 
remarkably fine-looking. Any woman might 
well be proud of him, as I have before said.” 

“ He is all you say. Miss Rutherford, but he 
knows well I shall never marry him.” 

“ Do not decide rashly, my dear Breta ; I may 
not be an able judge, but as I see him, he would 


262 The Be^iefit of the Doubt, 

be in all respects a most desirable choice, and 
with all his other advantages of mind and per- 
son he possesses wealth/' 

'' Yes, Noel has money." 

“ It will be a very bitter disappointment to 
him should you refuse him, my dear Miss Gar- 
net, for he is very ardently attached to you. 
But go, my dear. It is a point for you to de- 
cide with him ; and may you be guided aright," 
and Miss Rutherford put her arm around Breta 
tenderly and kissed her on her smooth round 
cheek. 

Taking her three kisses with her — her uncle’s 
Frank’s, and Miss Rutherford’s — to fortify her- 
self against the threatened attack, Breta sought 
the drawing-room, and found herself in Dunra- 
ven’s presence. 

She felt herself terribly at disadvantage with 
him during the first part of their interview ; he 
being cool and wary, saying only what he knew 
would interest and please her. He regarded 
her with a watchful look when he spoke or when 
she replied, and throughout their whole inter- 
view the watchful look never once left his eyes. 

You have treated me so coldly, so cruelly 
of late, Breta mia^ at length said he, quite ab- 


Three Kisses, 


263 


ruptly (it was always in Italian they spoke when 
together), that I asked Miss Rutherford to — I 
hope she represented to -you what an uncom- 
monly fine personage I am, take me all in all 
(she thinks so), and how devoted this fine per- 
sonage is to you, carissima!' Although he 
spoke lightly and laughingly he weighed each 
word he said. 

It was scarcely necessary to bring a third 
person in, Noel.” 

You are right, Breta mia',' uttered he, wil- 
fully misinterpreting her words. “We need 
only ourselves for a perfect understanding of 
the harmony between us, so precious to me, 
so — ” 

“ Noel, this must come to an end,” said Breta, 
in a quiet voice, meeting his impassioned look 
with her calm eyes full upon him, while a little 
sigh escaped her. “You know my meaning. 
Do not force me to be more explicit. All this 
is very painful to me.” 

“ And have you considered my pain? Breta, 
I must speak, and you must hear me. The time 
has gone by for — Breta, I have always looked 
forward to the time when I could — Breta, you 
hold my life in your hands. In all these years 


264 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

that I have loved you, and you alone, I have 
lived only in the hope, the certainty, that in the 
end you would be mine. I can wait no longer ; 
my peace of mind has gone utterly. This sus- 
pense is killing me. I must have an answer 
now, at once, to my suit, and it must be yes.” 

Breta was silent for a moment, then, looking 
up into his face, her eyes cold and clear, she said 
in a steady voice, with something of contempt 
in its tone : 

As you say, the time has gone by for any 
more of this indecision. If we cannot be 
friends, simply, we must be nothing. For the 
sake of the years gone by when we were such 
good friends I have tried to love you — with 
what success you yourself know. That is my 
answer ; I do not love you, I will never be your 
wife. And if you would leave me with any re- 
spect for you, you will let this drop forever 
thus.” And Breta rose to leave the room. 

Dunraven rose also, and taking one stride 
toward her, he grasped her wrist in his hand 
almost fiercely. 

'' Breta,” exclaimed he, in a thick, choked 
voice, his eyes, as he looked into her face, dense 
with a smouldering fire, “ I had rather see you 


Three Kisses. 


265 


die in my arms the moment after I had led 
you to the altar, knowing you mine, my own, 
than see you live the wife of another man !” 

Breta gave a start when he clutched her 
wrist, but made no effort to release herself from 
his grasp. She stood intently regarding him, 
every vestige of color having left her face. 

Speak ! Breta, carissima, will you be mine ? 
Come, my tragic muse, my casta diva, you 
have played me long enough ; you have fairly 
landed me at your feet. Say the word that will 
make of rhe the happiest man living.” 

For reply Breta stood immovable, her eyes, 
full of an impenetrable light, still fastened upon 
his face, her face blanched to the hue of marble. 

“ So,” said he, regarding her, “ I have, it 
seems, reversed the fable of Pygmalion. I have 
turned my warm, living, breathing Galatea to 
cold, white stone.” 

“Good God! How deadly beautiful you 
are ! ” exclaimed he, releasing her arm, as 
if compelled to by the magnetic fixedness of 
her look. 

Never for a moment taking her eyes from 
his face, Breta, freed from his grasp, partly 
turned and moved toward the door. But he 


266 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

was there before her, and stood, his back against 
it, barring her egress. 

Not until you have answered my ques- 
tion, bellissima^' said he, in the lightest of his 
airy tones. ^ 

Breta stood silent and fixedly regarding him. 

Then, if you wont speak, if you will stand 
there like a divine statue, not until you have paid 
toll. Have you not one poor little kiss for your 
poor old friend who loves you so well? ” And he 
made a movement as though about to take her 
in his arms, but he did not touch her. Then, 
changing his tone, he said : I am going away, 
I am going to leave you, Breta, without even 
the benefit of a doubt to cheer me,” and he 
laughed, but it was a lame attem.pt at a laugh. 

'' Breta,” said he at last, you freeze me ; 
you turn me to stone with yourself ; you are the 
Medusa — beautiful past all beauty — petrifying 
all who behold you. You — you wrench my 
heart — 1 can no more ; ” and raising his hand 
suddenly to his face, he bowed his head upon it, 
supporting himself against the door. 

“ You are greater than I, Breta — greater by 
miles,” and lifting his head as he spoke, he re- 
vealed his eyes suffused with tears. “ You 


Three Kisses. 


267 


have conquered and I submit/’ He spoke in 
a changed, broken voice, and staggering rather 
than walking to an arm-chair near, threw him- 
self into it, burying his head in both hands. 

Breta, her eyes still upon him, opened the 
door, and passing out shut it upon herself. 
Then speeding with swift steps, as though she 
had escaped from the jaws of some fierce deni- 
zen of the forest, she reached her chamber un- 
seen, entered it, bolted herself within, and sank 
upon the floor devoid of all consciousness. 


XVII. 


‘‘ so ! ” 

I T was full two hours before Breta came to 
herself. She arose to her feet, bathed her 
face, and arranged her hair ; her watch telling 
her it was but five minutes to the hour she had 
promised de Grey to drive with him. She was 
putting oh her hat, when the waiting-girl tapped 
at her door with de Grey's card. 

‘‘ Oh," exclaimed the girl, you look puffecly 
ghastly ! Sha’n’t I get you something, Miss 
Breta ? And here Mr. de Grey has come in his 
lovely two-horse phaeton.” 

'' Nothing, Katy ; it will all pass off. Has — 
Mr. Dunraven gone ? ” 

'' Long ago. Miss Breta. And he looked 
sublime as he rode off. Miss Rutherford and 
he had a long talk just before he went. But 
you have n’t had a mite of supper ; they re at 
tea now.” 


268 




269 


Asking the girl to bring her a glass of iced- 
water only, at the, front door, Breta took the 
wrap she handed her, and went down. 

As de Grey helped her into the phaeton, her 
blanched face and the strained look of calmness 
in her eyes gave him a great shock ; but he 
made no remark concerning her appearance, 
and seeing the color gradually return to her 
face, and the pained look in her eyes give way 
to one of perfect content after they had driven 
on some distance, he became less anxious, and 
devoured her smiles as though each one was 
a priceless treasure to him. And, although 
their conversation was desultory and inconse- 
quent, nothing that Breta could have recalled, it 
was, nevertheless, very precious and restful to 
her. 

They had arrived to where an abrupt descent 
at the right of the road revealed the broad ex- 
panse of valley bounded by the blending of the 
horizon with the far-distant mountains, that 
could be seen from the elm-shaded knoll at 
Elmwood as well. 

'' Let us pause here for a little,'' urged Breta. 
‘‘ This spot is so deliciously cool and shady ; and 
one never wearies of that view. Do you know. 


27o The Benefit of the Doubt, 

Mr. de Grey, that to look across that seventy 
miles of enchanted valley tq those misty moun- 
tains beyond, always makes me feel as though 
I was penetrating through the away-back heart 
of some human being — though I am afraid I am 
not an adept at reading character.” 

Ulysses is, Miss Garnet ; you can always re- 
Ty on his judgments.” 

Ulysses, when the phaeton stopped, had come 
around to Breta’s side, and planting his fore- 
paws on the floor of the phaeton, was content- 
edly resting his broad muzzle on her lap and 
looking up into her face. 

Just then a crunching of twigs was heard, 
and ascending the steep path from below came 
a man on horseback, who proved to be no other 
than Dunraven 

He had evidently not seen the occupants of 
the phaeton until he came upon them. But 
nothing taken aback, he bowed to Breta and 
de Grey, and dismounted, Ulysses greeting him 
with a low, ugly growl. Calling the dog to his 
side, de Grey was occupied in silencing him, 
while Dunraven, his hat in the hand with which 
lightly and easily he led his horse, ap- 
proached Breta, and offered her a bunch of 


27l 


- 6 ^/ 

exquisite wild flowers and brake he bore in his 
disengaged hand. 

'' I gathered these, cugina mia!' said he, in 
Italian, expressly for you, and intended leav- 
ing them for you at Miss Rutherfords. But 
you must have them now in all their freshness 
and beauty. I start for Liverpool to-morrow 
morning, and am glad of this opportunity to say 
farewell.” And holding out his hand he took 
hers and carried it to his lips in a jaunty, cous- 
inly way. 

We part good friends,” said he, impres- 
sively, as we have always been ; addio!' And 
remounting his horse as lightly and gracefully 
as he had dismounted, he rode off with a low 
bow and a smile that showed all his white, 
strong teeth. 

Breta, who had grown as white as her dress, 
was absently pulling the pretty petals from the 
flowers she loosely held, and scattering them 
broadcast. 

“ Oh, spare the flowers. Miss Garnet. They 
are very beautiful and rare, and entirely harm- 
less.” 

Meeting de Grey s look as he uttered his 
plea for the flowers, Breta, inexpressibly 


272 


The Benefit of the Doubt. 


soothed by the quiet tenderness of his manner, 
rallied, saying with unaffected simplicity.: 

“We were speaking of reading character, 
Mr. de Grey. I find I must accept Ulysses’ 
judgment of my cous — of Mr. Dunraven. As 
he revealed himself to me in the early part of 
this afternoon, I could think of likening him 
only to a — to a — well, to a tiger — strong, sleek, 
graceful, wary, and — ” But the concluding 
adjective Breta left unspoken. 

“We all resemble some one or more among 
the four-footed animals,” replied de Grey, still 
very quietly. 

“ I think, Mr. de Grey, you must be some- 
what like Ulysses here (Ulysses had resumed 
his former position with his head resting on 
Breta’s lap) ; your eyes — his and yours — are 
exactly alike,” said Breta, with a laugh. 

“ And you. Miss Garnet, I have often 
thought, are like a deer — always a dear, — re- 
treating from disagreeable things shyly and 
persistently — always when you can — until 
brought to bay. I can imagine how desper- 
ately brave and cool you might be when 
fairly brought to bay.” 

“ You would have had an opportunity of 


testing your theory this afternoon, for my 
cousin and I had a quarrel.” 

‘‘So I judged,” returned de Grey. “Miss 
Garnet,” continued he, regarding her fixedly, 
while his tone was very gentle, “ is it a part of 
your creed that reparation should be made for 
serious injuries ? ” 

“ What a strange question, Mr. de Grey.” 

“ Do you not feel self-accused, Miss Garnet? 
That was a terrible blow you gave me on that 
first Sunday we met in church. I shall never 
recover from it.” 

His voice, in spite of the lightness of his 
words, had a repressed passion in its tone that 
stirred Breta to her heart’s core ; and half 
inclined to laugh at the allusion to the scene of 
that Sunday, half inclined to cry with the con- 
flict of her feelings, she rem.ained silent. 

“ You bore it bravely,” continued he. “ My 
heart ached for you, and every note of ‘ I know 
that my Redeemer ’ registered itself there never 
to be effaced. Miss Garnet, I — Breta, my love 
was — was bumped into me. I have seen stars 
— a star ever since.” 

Breta could stand no more. The strange 
depths of his tone — the quietness of his man- 


274 


I 


"he Benefit of the Doubt, 


ner, shook her until she trembled like .a leaf. 
She first laughed nervously, and then her eyes 
filled with tears. And somehow Ulysses was 
swept from his perch and de Grey had gath- 
ered her into his arms. And the words he ut- 
tered quieted her, and she gave her future into 
his keeping, the lovely valley smiling peace- 
fully before them, and Ulysses, now lying in the 
road, his great head resting on his forepaws, 
looking a contented assent. 

“ Breta, darling, will you enlighten me on a 
point that has perplexed me much ? ” asked de 
Grey, after several moments of silence, looking 
earnestly down into her face. 

Breta met his look askingly, but made no 
other reply. 

Why, while you could not help listening to 
the voice of your heart, have you struggled so 
hard against it and me ? For you have ; you 
were irresistibly drawn to me ; that I saw from 
the first. You were happy only when with me ; 
that I felt, and still I feared you would get away 
from me before I could grasp you — to have and 
to hold — thus. Now why was it ? ” 

That is the question I thought was coming,'’ 
returned Breta, laughing, but rather uneasily. 


So,r^ 


275 


- Well ? " 

You cannot divine why?” 

“ On my soul, no. I have worked over that 
problem, Breta, as hard as ever I did over the 
hyperbolic logarithms of Napier, or the differ- 
ential calculus.” 

You have asked me and I will answer you. 
But it will be a hard thing for me to do, and I 
doubt if it will show me in an amenable, ami- 
able light. I answered your question, in fact, 
that Saturday on the knoll at Elmwood ; and 
Uncle Ray’s explanation to you as to why I 
left Milan and the opera you can recall also. I 
could get along, you see, very comfortably with 
all those I met in Milan, or here, or in New 
York — or anywhere, until they commenced 
showing me a particular preference and — asked 
me to marry them. And then I hated them — or 
myself, I could not say which. What right had 
they to presume that I — well, they seemed 
to me like a pack of ravening wolves, they were 
so — so foreign to me and my ways of thought 
and feeling. When I became acquainted with 
you it was — you were a new revelation to me. 
I felt at once that I had met my other self. 
But I would not give way to this conviction, 


276 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

fearing that you might possibly — and then that 
I might hate you also, you see. But it is all over 
now. I shall never have another doubt or fear 
of — of you in — in that way.” 

Breta’s broken sentences, uttered in a tremu- 
lous voice, though apparently neither very lucid 
nor logical, seemed to de Grey both, and to con- 
vey also a very subtle meaning. He did not 
permit himself to respond at once, but quietly 
took up the neglected lines, backed the horses 
from the maples by the roadside, where he had 
headed them to keep them from becoming res- 
tive, and giving them the road, drove on a few 
rods before a word was said. 

You are so different from others ; so true 
to yourself ; that is what I so love in you,Breta,” 
said he, gently. '' You should have been shield- 
ed from all this, and hereafter you shall — will 
be.” Then his tone changing to a lighter one, 
he added . 

“ The general impression is, I believe, that 
young ladies are pleased with attentions and 
offers of marriage ; keeping them for exhibi- 
tion, as a brave does his scalps — so many tro- 
phies of their prowess.” 

Breta laughed, then grew quite serious. 


So/ " 


277 


“ I have had very few friendships with young 
ladies/' she responded. Frank is the only one 
I have ever been at all intimate with — I told 
you I was not an amiable person," and she 
laughed again. I can only say that if we 
would all follow the promptings of our hearts 
instead of our vanity there would be less 
misery, fewer unhappy marriages in the world." 

You have solved what I consider the great- 
est problem of life," gravely uttered de Grey. 
Then after a moment’s silence he asked : ‘‘ But, 
Breta, darling, what will your uncle say to my 
having stolen his treasure, when I formally ask 
him for your hand ? " 

Breta looked up shyly, and then her eyes 
grew moist with tears. 

'' I am horribly nervous to-day," apologized 
she, with a little laugh. “ You must pardon me, 
Mr. de — ^Joslyn, — I like your name so much, I 
have long wanted an excuse to call you by it." 

“ It was my father’s name, and his father’s, 
and so on back; there has always been a Joslyn 
de Grey," returned he, quietly. 

“ You spoke of my uncle. Uncle Ray is one 
in ten thousand. I can never leave him, Jos- 
lyn.’’ 


278 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

I esteem him beyond measure — for him- 
self, his music, still more on your account. Is 
that a sufficient reply, Breta ? '' 

Every one must love him and his violin. 
He never had an enemy in the world; not 
even among those jealous, envious, high-strung, 
always antagonistic maestri there in Milan 
and Venice and Paris.'’ 

They were on their way home again, and 
were at the point where Dunraven had encoun- 
tered them-, and Breta, feeling less shy and quite 
as though she and de Grey had been on their 
present footing for months, had been talki-ng 
freely, and now once more, of the view spread 
before them. 

You can get a still finer sight of the valley 
and its surroundings from that pile of rocks way 
up above us there," remarked de Grey. 

Yes, I have seen it several times ; I have 
been up there with Uncle Ray." 

'' You ! you have been up there, Breta ? " 

Yes, I ! I have been up there, Joslyn." 

There is but one way of getting there, and 
it is steep and jagged enough," and de Grey 
surveyed the almost perpendicular height. 

We — Uncle Ray and I — have climbed more 


- 


279 


stupendous heights than this, searching for 
plants and views. There is a ledge just around 
that bend, where, up among the fissures of the 
rocks, are some of the loveliest ferns I ever saw ; 
and we have surprised the night-hawks on their 
rocky nests up there, blinking in the sunshine, 
and have counted their eggs and little ones.'" 

I was right in my conjecture, I perceive. 
You are decidedly of the cervus tribe, to de- 
light so in a promenade among such formi- 
dable steeps. We will try the ascent together 
some day. I should like to see how you do it.’' 

‘‘ Agreed, if you will stop laughing at me.” 

When Selma saw them enter the house (for 
de Grey had prevailed upon Breta to return to 
Elmwood with him, promising to get her back to 
the school by ten o’clock) both looking so bright 
and so full of the new joy born to them, a well- 
pleased look came into her own eyes, and she 
remarked to Mr. Black, who was just about to 
mount his horse : 

“ My last fear for Joslyn’s future is dissipated. 

I could not have picked out a wife for him more, 
in every way, suitable. Breta is one of the most 
harmoniously organized persons I ever met. 
She is a true child of genius, and withal pos- 


28 o 


The Benefit of the Doubt. 

sesses a fund of good, practical sense. She 
will wean him entirely from his impractical the- 
ories.” 

“ So ! ” uttered Mr. Black, stopping a moment, 
with his foot in the stirrup, to consider the case, 
as though it were a legal one. “ When did Jos- 
lyn tell you ? ” 

“Joslyn told me, Benjamin, without telling 
me. I saw them "as they came into the house 
together.” 

“ Selma, I will appoint you my head detec- 
tive when — when the time comes.” And Ben- 
jamin rode off. 


'XVIII. 


UNDER ONE ROOF. 

W HAT Mr. Whyte said was : 

‘‘ My^ dear, I am delighted that you 
should have made such a choice. I consider 
Joslyn de Grey the most genuine, the finest 
young man I ever knew. He is the real thing, 
way down deep — and without any fuss or 
feathers. I feared so much it might, after all, 
be Noel. And yet I knew better — that you 
saw him as he is. That it is too much of the 
post mortem with him.'’ 

Breta regarded her uncle with a little puz- 
zled look, repeating : ‘‘ Post mortem y Uncle 

Ray?” 

It is all very well to unearth Herculaneum 
and the buried cities of the past ; but to be told 
how we should feel in viewing these antiqui- 
ties, and how we should stand in the face of de- 
funct grandeur and classic art, is proof sufficient 
the admiration is not genuine.” 

281 


282 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

''Then you consider Noel superficial, Uncle 
Ray? You never said that before.’' 

" My dear, Joslyn is not. Suppose two per- 
sons are contemplating a divine work of art, say 
the Mona Lisa. One of these persons will see 
and comprehend the beautiful soul which gives 
vitality to these exquisite features, while the 
other will see only the surface beauty and wor- 
ship it because it is so faultless in line and color, 
and because a certain order to which he belongs 
— but I have said enough.” 

This was the next day, the i 5 th of July, and 
Mr. Whyte was conveying his niece to Elm- 
wood, Miss Rutherford having parted from her 
pupils for the vacation, and with five or six of 
them, including Fra*nk, Sadie, and Pella, " for 
good,” as Frank said. 

Soon after Mr. Whyte drove up with Breta, 
Selma’s coachman stopped at the great hall- 
door with the carriage containing the three 
young ladies just named, and Selma busied 
herself in showing them all to their respective 
rooms. 

Their rooms opened from the same corridor, 
and adjoined each other ; and Frank declared 
that she should never sleep a wink for fear of 


Under One Roof. 


283 


the ghosts, and she selected the room opening 
into Sadie Burrill’s on one side and into Breta s 
on the other. 

“ Sandwiched in between you two, and your 
doors into my room both open, I shall be able to 
survive,'' averred she, with a series of shudders. 

‘‘ Miss de Grey, don’t you believe her. It is 
all put on. Frank is not one whit more afraid 
than I am,” and in an unusually pleasant humor 
Pella laughed heartily, selecting the room in 
preference that had no communicating door, to 
prove Tber own superiority ; she being “ above 
all childish fears,” she declared. 

‘‘ The gentlemen have been in the city for 
a few days. Joslyn went this morning for 
mamma, but I expect them all back here this 
afternoon,” said Selma, as she left them to ar- 
range their drawers and presses. 

PTank, after unlocking her trunks and hanging 
up a gown or two, ran into Breta’s room and 
stationed herself at the window. 

“ Did you know, Breta, Miss de Grey has 
given us that handy little Angelique to wait on 
us, and she has a new maid for herself. I never 
had any thing to do with clothes at home, ex- 
cept to wear them, and have drudged at Miss 


284 The Benefit of the Doubts 

Rutherford’s as long as I care to in the vain en- 
deavor of acquiring habits of ‘ neatness, industry, 
and order.’ ” Here Frank imitated Miss Ruther- 
ford’s voice and manner, and having succeeded 
in making Breta laugh and drop a pile of laces 
she had in her hand, Frank urged : 

‘‘ Leave all your things just where they are, 
as I have. Angelique will fix them. She will 
be here as soon as Pella gets through mole-ing 
among her French dresses.” 

‘‘ My arrangements are comparatively simple 
and nearly completed. I could not be tortured 
with such a scientific complication of wardrobe 
as Pella has. Y ou know I acquired the habits 
of ' neatness, industry, and order ’ you speak of 
from my Madama the Contessa Romano, years 
ago in Milan.” 

And you are always more tastefully ^dressed 
than any of us. But, come over to the 

window ; here trots up Counsellor Black on his 
eternal black horse. He is a fine-looking man 
— of the giant pattern. How old do you think 
he is ? ” 

“ Selma told me — thirty-seven.” 

‘‘ And he is already one of our greatest 
lawyers — and such a quantity of him ! ” 


Under One Roof. 


285 


'' And here comes some one else, and in such 
an elegant turn-out — his own, undoubtedly, for 
I have seen nothing like it around here. The 
plot begins to thicken, Frank.” 

I declare, Breta, Ralph Conynghame is mag- 
nificent ; just like this new turn-out of his — at 
once elegant and stylish, without being showy. 
I have a secret to tell you, Breta. I intend to 
marry Ralph Conynghame.” 

“ So I have thought from the first, Frank. 
He will make you a good, noble husband, for 
he is a gentleman — a gentleman all through.” 

Is he not, Breta ? ” That is what first at- 
tracted me toward him. To be sure he has 
not asked me yet, but that is a small obstacle ; 
the thing was for me to make up my mind. I 
think he would have been over head and ears 
in love with you at first, as every one is, but 
that I would not allow.” 

“ Frank, you really shock me.” 

Oh, yes, I know I am very shocking ; I al- 
ways was ; mamma and every one says so. 
But I am in solid earnest ; I mean biz. I was 
not going to let Ralph Conynghame fall in love 
with you, for I meant you for quite another per- 
son. And in trolling him off away from you I 


286 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


began to take so much interest in him myself 
that I determined to appropriate him/’ 

Frank, you are getting worse every day. 
And you are so nice when you are good,” sug- 
gested Breta. 

‘‘ I always was. Mamma and every one says 
so.” 

“ As though you had to manoeuvre, when 
from the first Col. Conynghame was — Frank, 
you know well enough that, if I must say it, he 
is deeply in love with you.” 

It is perfectly lovely to hear you say it, 
Breta.” 

“ And he is sincere ; in all respects a man of 
honor, talented, and genuine.” 

And I — I am not in all respects all those 
fine things I pity him deeply, and hope he 
will never regret marrying such a harem-scarem, 
slangy rantam-scoot as I.” 

'‘You are certainly powerful on adjectives, 
Frank,” said Breta, laughing. “ But if you will 
look less like a thing uncanny, and listen, I will 
tell you something that will delight you to 
hear.” 

“ Something I already know, Breta. You 
told it to me last night, on your return from 


Under One Roof, 


287 


Elmwood. I don't mean that you told me in 
words — you need n’t look so out and injured ; — 
your face told me. And if two people were 
ever cut out for each other, those two are you 
and Joslyn de Grey.” And Frank threw her 
arms around Breta and kissed her. 

I shall begin to believe you really are what 
I have often called you — an incantatricey 

‘‘ Mamma and every one — but here comes 
some one else in his two-horse phaeton. The 
plot does begin to thicken. Ha ! and now this 
some one else, who proves to be the young 
master of Elmwood, looks up to this window, 
sees you, smiles, and bows. What a lustrous, 
happy light is in his eyes ! I bow to him also, 
not that I think he sees me in the least, but to 
keep you company. And now he helps out of 
the phaeton that lovely middle-aged lady — his 
mamma, of course, who is the image of him, 
and does not look like Selma — not but that 
Selma is lovely, too, of another type. Ah ! 
mon amie, you have a beautiful life before you. I 
only hope 7ny future mamma- in -law is one half 
as lovely as this lady whom Selma has rushed 
out to welcome so warmly. What a pretty 
pi:ture the three make. And now they go up 


288 


The Benefit of the Doubt. 


the steps of the veranda and into the house. 
And — voil , qui devient inter essant ! '' rattled 
on Frank. “ It is brother Tom now coming up 
the drive ; and in a spick and span new turn- 
out. It is a most gorgeous affair, but does not 
compare with Col. Conynghame's, for Tom’s 
looks new.” 

Sadie Burrill just then entering through 
Frank’s room joined them, and catching a 
glimpse through the window of Tom Bowers as 
he leaped from the vehicle in his careless, dash- 
ing way, she blushed most eloquently. 

Let us go down. Have we gotten on all our 
war-paint ? ” demanded Frank. '' Sadie, you 
look perfectly stunnin’. Breta, in that shadowy 
muslin gown you look just like an angel in a 
fleecy cloud ; now do, some one, say some- 
thing fine about me.” And Frank commenced 
inspecting herself in the double mirror. 

“ Frank, you are transcendent ! ” exclaimed 
Sadie, with her gay, girlish laugh. 

'' If you would behave one half as well as 
you look, Frank, you would take the world 
by storm,” added Breta, laughing, and looking 
lovingly at Frank. 

A knock came at the door, and Angelique 


Under One Roof. 


entered with a deliciously fragrant basket of 
flowers. She made them up into exquisite 
bouquets, and arranged others, she had selected, 
in the young ladies’ hair with artistic skill. And 
going to Frank’s trays and boxes she effected 
some brilliant changes in her toilette. 

'' I could not come sooner, young ladies,” she 
said in her half French and half English. Miss 
Morton kept me. But to-morrow Fanchon, 
Miss Morton’s own maid, comes, and I shall 
devote myself exclusively to you.” 

Making some changes in Sadie’s dress, 
Angelique surveyed Breta from near and far, 
and pronounced her perfect, tres jolie^ 
''You needed only the flowers. Miss Garnet,” 
she added. 

Telling them they were the three most beau - 
tiful young ladies she had ever seen, and hand- 
ing them their bouquets, Angelique opened the 
door and ushered them to the stairs. 

‘' It is so nice to have it all done for you ; to 
have your war-paint selected and put on with- 
out the labor of thinking about it yourself,” ob- 
served Frank, on their way down to the draw- 
ing-room. 


XIX. 


ALI. WITHIN OURSELVES. 

VERY one in the house was full of the 



■1 opera, for it had been decided to rehearse 
an entire opera, and much discussion ensued. 
Various operas were suggested by first one and 
then another, and rejected. 

‘‘ Every opera named so far has a ghost in 
it,'' exclaimed Frank, with a stage shiver. 
“ The ghosts of the house would be sure to 
respond, and it would be nip and tuck who 
could get up the best demon." 

Did you ever hear a young lady use such 
an expression as that. Count Gueret, — ‘ nip 
and tuck ' ? " sneered Pella to the count, who 
was examining some views of the Tuileries with 
her over at a table. 

'' The Semiramide has not been named," in- 
timated Breta. '' There is the — same objection 
to it ; but Ninus is an intensely respectable 
shade and — " 


290 


All Within Ourselves, 


291 


'' Sister Frank/’ interrupted Bowers, how 
would you like to slay your own mother ? 
Think of the dismal scene in the mausoleum of 
the murdered Ninus. Miss Garnet, consider 
Frank’s nerves, and suggest something less awe- 
inspiring than the Semiramide.” 

“ Brother Tom, living or dead, with nerves 
or without nerves, whatever other horrible thing 
you do, don’t say Semiraz/^ide. The Italian 
language, bear in mind, unlike the English, or 
French, or — or Chinese, has no appreciable ac- 
cent. Then, too, the a is ah, the e is a, and the 
i is e!' 

'' Say-mee-rah-mee-day, will that please your 
Italian ear ? Unfortunately, /have not studied 
Hebrew and Chaldaic and Burmese and Choc- 
taw and — Chinese, recollect, as you have. And 
/am not afraid of ghosts.” 

‘‘ The last time I heard the Se^niramidel' ob- 
served Conynghame, in his clear, gentlemanly 
tones, after the laugh evoked by Bowers had 
subsided, was in Berlin ; you were with me, 
Joslyn, and Patti, with her exquisitely-accurate 
glottis-stroke, was prima donna. The whole 
cast was fine.” 

Here Count Gueret spoke up from the in- 


292 The Benefit of the Doubt 

terior of the Tuileries, suggesting several 
French operas ; but as they did not meet with 
an enthusiastic acceptance, he went back to the 
Tuileries. 

“Suppose we return to our first intention, 
and select some fine scenes from various operas,'’ 
suggested Selma; 

“ With tableaux between scenes," proposed 
Breta, with a view to Pella's benefit, whose 
Greek face had elongated considerably during 
the operatic discussion. 

Pella, at once all animation, spoke up, sweetly, 
in high treble, of some “ lovely designs for 
tableaux " her brother had sent her from Paris. 

“No one has heard Miss Burrill's opinion," 
said Mr. Black, gallantly requesting to know her 
preference also. 

Sadie, her delicately pretty face, with its 
square, intelligent forehead and spirituelle feat- 
ures, all aglow under the modest excitement 
of pronouncing an opinion before so many, 
said she would be delighted to assist in the 
choruses of the operatic selections, or in the 
tableaux, and that Miss de Grey must dispose 
of her where she could be made most avail- 
able. 


All Within Ourselves. 


293 


The blessed little darling ! ” exclaimed Tom 
in an undertone to Frank. “ She is frightened 
half out of her wits, but she is clear grit.'’ 

“ We will have the quintette from the Semi- 
ramide, for one thing,” pronounced Selma. 
“ Ralph, you to take one of the basso parts, and 
Mr. Bowers the other.” 

“ I was terribly afraid. Miss de Grey,” acqui- 
esced Tom, bowing, that we might finally fetch 
up on Wagner’s Trilogy ; that has a trill in it 
thirty-six hours long, and that takes fifteen days 
and nights without eating or sleeping to enact 
(the Trilogy I mean, not the trill), and that we 
would have to impress the Atlantic Ocean, and 
mermaids, and sirens, and a whole artillery of 
cannon. And, perhaps, Wagner himself, with 
his doubled and quadrupled heavy brass in- 
struments — that in doubling always produce 
diabolical discords — and his drums so large and 
heavy that their stroke can only be heard ten 
bars after their time in the measure. Or at the 
very least that we might settle on the Gott-er- 
dam-^x-wx\^ part ; — excuse me, ladies, for being 
profane, but it is the name, you know. For 
any thing less heavy and long, you may depend 
on me. Miss de Grey. I might fall asleep on 


294 Benefit of the Doubt. 

the night of the fourteenth day, and that would 
put out the rest.” 

Tom, Tom,” laughingly exclaimed Frank, 
shocking as they say I am, you are worse. 
Remember, if we should all get suddenly hoarse 
on the day of the entertainment and not be 
able to sing, you are to deliver a lecture on 
music. Et qii en dites vous, Miss de Grey ? 
Would it not be a sufficient immunity for the 
audience ? ” 

‘'Quite sufficient,” assented Selma, laugh- 
ing. 

Just then a visitor was announced by Bolton, 
the footman ; and a tall gentleman, with piercing 
black eyes and heavy black beard and hair 
mixed with gray, entered the room, and Breta, 
hastening toward him, exclaimed : “ mio caro 
pad7^e ! ” and was lost in his arms, the tall gentle- 
man concluding his stage embrace by kissing 
her hand. Little Mr. Whyte also going forward 
to welcome him, was received by him with ef- 
fusion in a truly foreign embrace. Breta then 
leading him to Mrs. de Grey, who, in an arm- 
chair over by one of the windows, had been 
engaged in conversation with Mr. Whyte, and 
at times a much-amused spectator of the oper- 


All Within Ourselves, 


295 

atic discussion, was now presented to the Signor 
Trapassi, '' my well-beloved maestro^' added 
Breta. 

“ To take me so by surprise ! ” exclaimed 
Breta, as Selma joined them and was introduced 
to the 7naestro, 

All owing, figlia mia, to these two ladies 
from whom I received my invitation to come 
here,'' returned the professore, laughing with a 
malicious enjoyment of Breta’s surprise, 

“ I so much feared that Professor Trapassi 
might not be able to come, that I kept silent on 
the subject, and enjoined on mamma to do the 
same," said Selma, beaming on Breta delight- 
edly. 

“ And I — I have long wished to come to the 
country that contains my well-beloved pupil," 
returned the maestro, in his imperfect English ; 

the country of the martyred Signor Leen- 
colen, whom I revere with my own Garibaldi. 
So I determined on taking a holiday, and, grazie 
a Dio, here I am! I arrived in Nuovo York 
to day." 

Being presented generally, the conversation 
turned upon ocean trips, the maestro narrating, 
with much gusto, several amusing incidents of 


296 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

his. And from ocean trips, arriving at Niagara, 
he declared that one inducement for coming to 
America, besides hearing his divine diva sing 
once more — for which he would have braved a 
dozen tempestuous oceans, — was to see the 
great Falls of Niagara, the vast Western prai- 
ries, and the forests of California. When, 
finally, the intended musical fiesta was discussed, 
he entered into the spirit of it like a boy — or a 
great maestro on a holiday. 

He took in hand the various voices as though 
they were subjects for dissection ; admiring or 
criticising without fear or favor, — and in a 
twinkling, made out the three hours' pro- 
gramme, leaving spaces between scena or solo 
for the tableaux. 

He was very sorry, he declared, that Signor 
de Grey was not a poor man ; money being, 
as he averred, a terrible evil. Declaring he 
should be so delighted to engage him and bring 
him out as primo uomo, and that he would in- 
sure for him both fame and fortune. 

“ Brother Joslyn and my cousin Ralph (your 
basso here. Signor Professore) studied six or 
seven years while abroad," said Selma. ‘‘ They 
ought to sing well." 


All Within Ourselves. 


297 


''They ought to, Selma, and one does,'' re- 
turned Conynghame. " Our first maestro, poor 
old Ronaldi, while he listened to Joslyn with 
delight, used to rave so distractedly at the un- 
pliable tones of my voice that I own I felt 
somewhat self-accused when he died." 

"No one but cousin Ralph himself doubts 
the excellence of his singing," averred Selma. 

" I hope, Professor Trapassi," said Bowers, 
" that as we are to have the quintette in the 
Say-me-rah-me-day (here Tom looked quizzi- 
cally at his sister), you will adjudge the part of 
Assur to Conynghame, and let me take that of 
the prophet Oroe. I could never achieve, that 
run of Assur’s." And Bowers whistled it : 



" I should be sure to break down and burst a 
note on that high E," he added. 

" So I had previously adjudged," the profes- 
sore replied, with a comprehensive smile and a 
good-humored flash, vivid as lightning, from 
the depths of his keen black eyes. 

" Selma, where shall I find a score of the 


298 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

opera ? ” asked Conyng-hame. “ I am not as 
familiar with the part as Bowers is/’ 

'' In the library, Ralph, on the shelf near the 
western bay-window, which contains nearly all 
the operas that have been written,” returned 
Selma. 

“Just around the corner, Conynghame, No. 
520 ; with a green door and brass knocker ; in 
front of a blue pump ; a lamp-post to the left, 
and a baker’s shop opposite. You will be sure 
to find it.” 

“ Tom, be careful,” warned Frank. “ Every- 
one won’t understand, as I do, that you don’t 
mean any thing by your — ” 

“ But I do mean something, Sis, — to guide 
Conynghame in his search, and see, here he 
comes with the book in consequence. He 
never would have found it without.” 

There was something so fresh and sponta- 
neous in Bowers’ up-bubbling drollery, as 
though he were boiling over with fun ; his ac- 
companying facial changes and his whimsical 
gestures, always more irresistible than his 
words, that no one thought of resisting the 
laughter he provoked, and Conynghame, so 
quietly polished, taking to him greatly, extremes 
met, and the liking seemed to be mutual. 


All Within Ourselves. 


299 


The professore laughed with the rest, declar- 
ing him to be a great buffo, and that in picking 
out for him, as he had, Figaro’s solo (putting his 
finger on the programme), he expected him to 
create a great sensation, with his full, deep bari- 
tone, almost basso voice. 

‘‘We will leave off in the quintette here,” 
added the professore, who had the score of the 
Semiramide in his hand, “ at nel mio terror!' 

“ Where we all die off in a smorz, is it not?” 
asked Bowers, suiting the action to the word. 

“ Just before the Dun Semidio!' continued 
the professore with a great smile. “ And we will 
conclude with the duo Gio7^no d' orore instead of 
Dun Semidio, and that will give Miss Bowers’ 
contralto fine scope. I should like to hear it 
sung at La Scala by you two signorini ; Miss 
Bowers’ contralto is much finer than that of the 
Signora Gabussi who sang with you that winter 
you sang at the Scala,y^/^^ mia!' * The latter 
part of his sentence he addressed to Breta in 
his own tongue, and finding all understood him, 
notwithstanding Bowers had averred he had 
not studied Italian, the maestro now spoke on in 
his own language, being able to express himself 
he declared, so much more easily. 


300 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

Tom is a humbug. He knows Italian as 
well as I do/' said Frank. 

II Signor Bowers is a born bufil^o',' returned 
the professore, with another great smile. 

'' Our chorus, Signor Trapassi, consists of 
Miss Morton and Miss Burrill, soprani ; myself, 
contralto ; Count Gueret, tenore, and Mr. 
Black, basso. I hope you will find us efficient." 

'' I am afraid Signor Trapassi will repent en- 
listing me, I howl so unmercifully," said Mr. 
Black with a gallant attempt at Bowers’ face- 
tiousness, I fear I shall drown out all the rest." 

'' Oh, do not fear, Signor ConsigliereS re- 
turned the maestro, still in Italian, you have 
a very full, noble basso. It will be very effective 
in chorus." 

You sing remarkably well, Benjamin, when 
you do not get too enthusiastic," added Selma 
gently. 

As you please, Selma, I am always subject 
to the commands of the ladies," acquiesced Mr. 
Black subsiding into his legal manner. 

Counsellor Black may consider himself as 
the ponderous representative of the Great 
Snubbed ; but snubbed so neatly he feels him- 
self complimented rather. He should stick to 


All Within Ourselves. 


301 


urbane dignity and leave tomfoolery to Tom 
Bowers,” said Frank in a low tone to Bowers. 

And to Tom Bowers’ sister,” retorted Tom. 

Listen,” said Sadie, laughing, who was be- 
side them, ‘‘ Signor Trapassi is asking about our 
orchestra.” 

They crossed the room in time to hear Selma 
explain to the maestro that she was daily expect- 
ing two young cousins who had been studying 
for the last ten years abroad, one an excelling 
pianist, the other a flutist and violinist. ‘‘ Both 
thorough musicians I assure you, signore,” con- 
tinued Selma. Then we have Mr. Whyte’s 
violin, and you know, signore, what that is, and 
in the solos brother Joslyn’s cello, and last but 
not least mamma s harp. Mamma is a wonder- 
ful harpist I 'assure you, and so used to playing 
she never tires. If you think we need more 
pieces. Signor Trapassi, we can ''easily engage 
them from New York, though we did wish to 
have it all within ourselves.” 

Mrs. de Grey came forward from her chair 
over by the window, whither she had retired, to 
say she was very sure the maestro would find 
the orchestra sufficient, all being such compe- 
tent musicians. 


302 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

“ I quite prefer a small orchestra of sympa- 
thetic musicians of culture to one composed of 
very many ordinary musicians. The Signor 
Whyte’s violin is almost an orchestra in itself,” 
returned the maestro. 

Mrs. de Grey, Selma, and the maestro con- 
tinued talking for a time, and then he after- 
wards found himself wandering over the 
grounds with Breta and reviewing old Milan 
times. 

They were sitting on one of the carved oaken 
benches at the knoll, the maestro contemplating 
the majestic view, when Mr. Whyte and de 
Grey joined them. And it was not long before 
Mr. Whyte, getting into a musical discussion 
with the maestro, carried him off to his den to 
play for him some of the scores about which 
they had been discussing. 

It was in such hours as the one that followed 
that Breta lived a whole lifetime of content. 
And de Grey watching for them, employed the 
greatest ingenuity in securing these delightful 
moments as precious to him as to her. It was 
not until the gong sounded loudly for dinner, 
that they made their way to the house and 
joined the rest. 


XX. 


THE TWO-BY-TWO ARRANGExMENT. 

HE rehearsals went on with great spirit 



X and industry ; the two young Thornes 
having arrived and proving themselves musi- 
cians of no common merit. Fred, the pianist, 
had a touch as soft as velvet, and his runs were 
so many strings of pearls; while Carls violin 
and flute being also greatly commended, Selma 
was highly gratified. 

The count, meantime, being well up in his 
chorus parts, having sung them, as he declared, 
at the Marquis d’ Alby s, had but little to do ; 
and as Satan is said to kindly provide occupa- 
tion for such, he suddenly conceived the idea 
that it would be prudent to ascertain the exact 
amount in hard cash owned by the young 
heiress to whom he had been paying such as- 
siduous court, and not rely solely on appear- 
ances. 


303 


304 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

He announced one morning after breakfast 
that he should be obliged to tear himself away 
from the charming company assembled, for a 
day or two on business. 

Why, Gueret,” said Mr. Black, “ I thought 
you of all men had no business cares While 
I — and, by the way, I must show myself in 
court this morning, and will run down to the 
city with you, after I have rehearsed my parts in 
the choruses.” 

I shall be delighted, Black ; the choruses all 
coming first to-day at my request,” returned 
the count, smiling through his moustache. 

The count was gone but two days ; the re- 
sult of his investigations proving so entirely 
satisfactory, that, paying to the jobber-in-law 
(Black not having been let into the secret) a 
certain sum for assisting him in his search into 
the extent of the Morton property, he at once 
purchased a baronial-looking buggy, on the 
panel of which he had hastily painted a sar- 
coramphus surrounded by hieroglyphics — his 
coat of arms. 

The artist, who so hastily painted the sar- 
coramphus, had given the head of the bird a 
knowing tilt to one side, much as if it were a 


The Two-by- Two ArrangemenL 305 

human vulture. And without sensing the pos- 
sible application of this representation of family 
emblazonry to his own individual case, he had 
the vehicle conveyed to the village of Lea in 
the cars, which also carried him. And there 
having the handsome horse he had purchased 
harnessed to it (although feeling the outlay with 
his limited income inconvenient), he drove with 
a brave heart to Elmwood. 

The mornings w^ere now devoted rigidly to 
rehearsals — the count, his mind at ease, work- 
ing as indefatigably as the rest, — and the after- 
noons to the relaxation of drives or rides. 
And the order of the drives seemed tacitly un- 
derstood without any prepared plan ; the count 
with Pella in the baronial buggy heading the 
two-by-two arrangement. 

De Grey had stocked his stables well with 
a quantity of fine saddle-horses ; and frequently 
the whole party rode forth, forming quite an 
imposing cavalcade. The maestro, who seemed 
to thoroughly enjoy himself, fairly scoured the 
country far and near on horseback, accompanied 
only by Mr. Whyte and the two young Thornes, 
at all times, when the entire party did not ride 
with them. 


3o6 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

As the rehearsals progressed, the whole house 
went wild over Breta’s singing, and young Fred 
Thorne, who lived solely in and for music, made 
of her a worship. 

'' She alights on her notes like a bird, and 
rings out those lark-like tones of hers with such 
ease and purity of intonation, with such a plomb- 
ness, never obliterating the beat of the measure 
by faulty slurrings, every note being taken with 
a clean attack with the true glottis-stroke, and 
never in the larynx with stiffened jaw and tongue 
(that horrible voce bianca we hear from the ma- 
jority of singers), that every one must feel what 
the world is losing that she is not out in it as 
prima donna.'’ 

This young Thorne said to the maestro^ and 
the reply was — the maestro transfixing him with 
his keen glance that added more force to his 
words : 

“ You may well rave, youngster. The world 
does not contain any thing so perfect — mind I 
say perfect — in the way of singing as the voice 
and method of the Madamigella Breta Garnet.” 

The only two not carried away by enthusiasm 
on the point of Breta s singing were Pella and 
the count. 


The Two-by- Two Arrangement, 307 

But they had weighty matters of their own 
on hand to occupy their thoughts. For one 
thing Pella made it a study to select which of 
her endless variety of costly French dresses she 
should wear each day. And one day being, 
with the help of her French maid, more ele- 
gantly dressed than usual (it was a masterpiece 
of Worth’s she wore, just sent her by her broth- 
er), the count could restrain the ardor of his 
love no longer. He made his declaration, men- 
tioning, casually that as his wife she would have 
access to all the courts of Europe, and was 
graciously accepted. 

Frank congratulated her when Pella, with 
flushed cheeks, announced to her her tri- 
umph. 

'' He is the genuine article, Pella, and no 
humbug. His pedigree. Counsellor Black said, 
reaches back to the Huguenots. He is poor, 
and all that, but he is one of the bluest-blooded 
counts extant. And you — you have enough 
money, you know, for both.” 

His ancestors were impoverished in the 
Revolution,” returned Pella. I wrote to my 
brother to ascertain all about him, and received 
his reply yesterday. He assures me the count 


3p8 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

can have access to every court in Europe, and 
the count himself says so. As for money, fort- 
unately I have, as you say, sufficient for 
both.” 

'' Are you sure the count does not seek you 
just on account of your money, Pella ? ” 

'' He is entirely too noble for a thought of 
that kind. He loves me with the truest affec- 
tion, for he has told me so.” 

“ And you love him ? ” 

Most certainly I do.” 

“ After having ascertained that he is truly a 
count, and can carry you into all the courts of 
Europe — with your own money ? ” 

'' How perfectly hateful you are, Frank. But 
you always were that. Of course after I had 
ascertained all about him. I should not have 
permitted myself to love him before, as it be- 
hooves me to protect myself — my father and 
mother both being dead, and my brother, like 
yours, only three years older than myself.” 

I was hateful, Pella ; pardon me,” exclaimed 
Frank, thawing out with remorseful sympathy. 

\ow are very much alone, and I should have 
thought of that — I, who have mother, father, 
brother, and sister. I am truly sorry for you. 


The Two-by- Two Arra^igement, 309 

and will be your friend and do what I can to 
prove it/' 

'' I do not know as I shall stand in any 
need of the commiseration of any one. I shall 
have the count to protect me ; and shall pass 
my life in very different scenes from these.” 

It is always better to take a perfectly prac- 
tical view of things,” returned Frank, freezing 
up again. 

Certainly it is ; for once I agree with you. 
But please understand that what I have told you 
is in confidence. When the suitable time comes 
it shall be imparted to all.” 

Frank promised, and then said : But, Pella, 
one should be sure that one loves, you know. I 
had formed an idea somehow that you cared for 
Joslyn de Grey.” 

“ How very absurd ! ” exclaimed Pella. “ You 
know well enough he is engaged to Breta. I 
•certainly think he could have done much better, 
but it is not for me to tell him so.” 

Certainly not,” assented Frank. 

Frank had but little time to devote to con- 
siderations for Pella ; she having an affair of 
her own that took all her wits to manage. And 
so far, no Wall Street operator could have 


310 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

manipulated a crooked “corner” more clev- 
erly. 

Conynghame more than once had arrived al- 
most to the point at which he was aiming ; but 
Frank, with dexterous ingenuity, had always 
contrived some inopportune remark, teeming 
with such irresistible drollery, that Ralph, from 
an extremely sentimental mood, was forced into 
an extremely jovial one. 

One afternoon he seemed unusually inspired, 
and had successfully parried all her whimsical 
speeches, until, as they were going through a 
long stretch of woods, dark and silent (the 
horse, with a loosened rein, rhythmically crunch- 
ing the fallen leaves), he quietly but boldly took 
Frank’s hand, that had been lying ungloved on 
her lap, within the firm clasp of his own long, 
white fingers, and commenced scrutinizing it. 

“ A vast difference between the color of the 
two hands, is there not. Col. Conynghame ? 
said Frank, in a tone of pretended indifference ; 
“ mine so excessively brown, what one might 
call a brown paw, and yours so — ” 

“And yet in the possession of this little 
brown paw lies all my future happiness,” inter- 
rupted he, clasping it still more firmly. 


The Two-by-Two Arrangement, 31 1 

It seems incredible that a hand more or less 
can do so much as that for any one. So many 
people in this world have had their hands ampu- 
tated and yet have lived and been happy.’’ 

‘‘ A hand more, not a hand less, is what I 
wish, Frank. Will you vouchsafe me this? ” 

‘‘ Colonel Conynghame, when you are done 
with my hand, I will trouble you to return it. I 
do not see what any one needs with more than 
two hands.” 

But you see, Frances, I am not done with 
it, and I need, actually need, four. And more 
than all I need the warm heart accompanying 
this hand. Will you resign it to my keeping ? ” 
‘‘ I am sure. Colonel Conynghame, if you are 
such a Briareus as all that, you had better make 
a collection of hands, winding up with clock 
hands ; as for mine, it is entirely out of my 
power to give you what you have levied upon. 
And as for the other article for which you ask, 
why, that was yours ages ago. But how any 
one so highly cultured can wish to be bothered 
with such a slang-y, crude, — Colonel Conyng- 
hame, how did you like your Cousin Fred’s 
improvisation this morning ? ” 

But Ralph would not be put off. He told her. 


312 The Benefit of the Do 7 ibt. 

still retaining her hand, how much he loved her, 
how beautiful he thought her, until, whetting 
her tongue to a double edge : 

'' What a curious coincidence. Colonel Con- 
.ynghame ! ” said she ; I also consider you per- 
fectly lovely. Too lovely for any thing! The 
first time I beheld you I was struck with your 
commanding appearance and elegant manners. 
Your eyes are positively divine, and your nose 
is the most chiselled nose I ever saw. I never 
could have loved any one less beautiful than 
you, or less altogether — 

She was going on, but unable longer to with- 
stand the drollery of it, the woods rang with his 
peals of laughter, and Frank had gained her 
point, Ralph scarcely knowing whether he had 
or had not been accented. 


XXI. 


THE DAY OF THE MATINEE. 

I T was in October ; the two and a half months 
of rehearsals were over, and the day of the 
matinee had arrived. Mr. Whyte, bearing in 
his hand some official papers, was seeking Breta, 
and found her with Frank and Mrs. de Grey in 
the little theatre where the gardener and his 
men were just completing the floral decorations. 

He requested in his mild way permission to 
intrude a little business, saying apart to Breta : 

“ It relates to my brother-in-law, William 
Waldo, my dear Breta.'’ 

You darling little uncle," returned Breta, 
laying her hand tenderly on his arm, some- 
thing has greatly disturbed you." 

‘‘ I never have had much patience, my dear, 
when Waldo — who by his scaly, legal tricks 
contrived to make away with all I owned at one 
fell sweep — turns up, though now he has turned 
down I should have." 

313 


3 1 4 The Benefit of the Doubt 

Turned down, Uncle Ray?’' repeated Breta. 

'' Dead, my dear. A ghost with the rest, and 
not a very good ghost either, I fear. He per- 
formed one act of restitution at the last, leaving 
me sole heir to all he owned, which in his will 
he confessed was not only legally mine but actu- 
ally mine. You see, I was in those days 
utterly careless of money, and he had the sole 
management of mine!” 

Breta made no reply, but was looking thought- 
fully on the floor. 

It is a very large property, Breta, and it will 
all be yours some day.” 

Oh, don’t. Uncle Ray, dear — ” 

My dear, I won’t — at least not now.” 

Signor Trapassi chancing in just then, Mr. 
Whyte handed him the papers. He took all 
in with one of his eagle glances, merely re- 
marking dryly : 

‘‘ The Signor Gulielmo Waldo performed one 
act of justice in his long life. Let us hope it 
may profit him hereafter. My dear madama,” 
continued the maestro, turning to Mrs. de 
Grey, “ I am truly sorry to leave Elmwood. I 
have passed here one of the pleasantest sum- 
mers of my life. I start to-morrow morning 


The Day of the Matmee. 31 5 

for the Falls, by way of Watkin’s Glen. I 
shall take a peep from the top of the Catskills, 
and shall visit, in short, all the places of note in 
your country before I leave it. I shall steam 
through the chain of great lakes to the Western 
prairies, and shall return from California by 
way of Panama.'’ 

You have made yourself well acquainted, 
I see, with the geography of our country. Sig- 
nor Trapassi," returned Mrs. de Grey, in her 
pure Italian accent, looking at the maestro with 
the good, true look her son had inherited. '' We 
shall hope to have you some time with us on 
your return before you sail for Europe.” 

The maestro was replying with a qualified 
affirmative, when Selma, with Miss Rutherford 
entered, followed by Bowers and the young 
Thornes. 

I came over early, as you see, this morn- 
ing,” said Miss Rutherford, ‘‘ to offer my as- 
sistance ; but I find nothing to do but to ad- 
mire. The decorations are all exquisite, and 
the wilderness of flowers everywhere makes 
the whole house look like fairy-land.” 

‘‘ Then you, madam, are one of the happy 
mortals who have been in fairy-land and can 


3i6 


The Benefit of the Doubt 


speak from experience/' said Bowers, bowing 
whimsically to Miss Rutherford. 

“ You must excuse Brother Tom, Miss Ruth- 
erford,” apologized Frank. “ He is writing a 
book of travels, and is anxious to get all the in- 
formation concerning undiscovered countries 
that he can.” 

Smiling blandly upon both sister and brother. 
Miss Rutherford wished to know when the mat- 
inee began. 

At two o’clock,” replied Selma, ‘‘ that those 
of our friends who so wish can return by the 
evening train.” 

‘‘ At two, sharp, the overture in one flat,” 
added Bowers, who was assistant stage-mana- 
ger. 

I begin to feel as though I should prefer 
being one of the audience, and I know Sadie 
does. Don’t you, Selma and Breta ? ” said 
Frank, languidly seating herself. 

My heart fairly palpitates with the agitation 
of the coming ordeal. I know Joslyn’s and 
Ralph’s must. Don’t yours, Fred and Carl ? ” 
mimicked Tom in falsetto. “ These seats are 
so comfortable,” and he threw himself into 
one of the luxurious seats for the audience. 


The Day of the Matinee, 317 

The sound of numerous carriages on the 
gravel drive called Mrs. de Grey and Selma to 
welcome their guests, Breta, Mr. Whyte, and 
the maestro going out of the room at the same 
time with the two ladies. 

How large an audience do you expect. 
Miss Bowers ? ” asked Miss Rutherford. 

“ Over five hundred invitations were sent 
out, and we have received nearly one hundred 
regrets. We lunch at twelve to-day, to give 
us all plenty of time ; and we dine at six after 
it is all over. We have the celebrated Gabriel 
chef de cuisine, and must expect wonders in the 
way of lunch and dinner. Excuse me a 
moment, Miss Rutherford, mamma has just ar- 
rived ; I hear her voice. I will send one of the 
maids to show you the way to the dressing- 
rooms.” And Frank was off, her brother hav- 
ing preceded her. 

Each one of the five hundred guests pres- 
ent had that day something to recall in after 
years ; the whole thing, including the lunch and 
dinner of the famous Gabriel, being a decided 
success. The house from garret to cellar was 
literally a scene of enchantment ; and the sing- 
ers and orchestra so perfect in their various 


3i8 The Benefit of the Doubt 

parts, all executing them with such musical pre- 
cision, and Breta fairly excelling herself, that, 
from the first note of the three hours’ matinee 
to the last, the Signor Trapassi was in a state 
of intense satisfaction. 

By half-past nine all the guests, save those 
who remained all night at Elmwood, among 
whom were Mr. and Mrs. Bowers, had gone to 
meet down or up trains, or had returned- to 
their homes at Lea. 

Through the windows of the great drawing- 
room came the pleasant October air, low fires 
in the grates removing the evening’s chill, 
while various groups here and there were dis- 
cussing the various topics the music had 
awakened. 

In the deep embrasure of one of the windows 
Breta, de Grey, and the 7naestro were hold- 
ing an animated disquisition on the merits of 
various composers. The moonlight streaming 
down on them mistily through the delicate 
tracery of the lace curtains, partially draped 
in as they were from the lights of the room by 
the heavy folds of damask hangings, gave to the 
maestro s tall form, dark face, and piercing eyes 
an almost weird look, while it heightened every 


The Day of the Matinee, 319 

charm of Breta's young beauty. And de Grey, 
sitting a little more in the shade, drank in the 
loveliness of her ever-varying face, making now 
and then a remark so pertinently suggestive, 
that it set the maestro off again at elucidating in 
his strong, terse language some abstruse point 
he had well studied. 

“ Leaving abstrusities,” said he, '‘and return- 
ing to our matinee, Dio santo! but young 
Thorne plays a remarkably sympathetic piano 
accompaniment. Carl also delighted me, and 
I cannot say enough on the excellence of the 
signora’s harp. Corpo di Bacco ! but it was 
fine.” 

“ My mother plays the harp well,” assented 
de Grey. 

“ And you, signore. I have seldom heard a 
tenore I like better. The timbre of your voice 
pleases me. You could make a great artist. 
But for the Madamigella Breta, here,” continued 
the maestro, ‘fer V amore di Dio ! What can 
I say ? Her runs and- trills are perfection — 
\\^r grupetti, her suoni martellati faultless — her 
porta 7 ne 7 ito, the ease with which she attacks the 
highest note, absolutely unequalled. And that 
last crescendo di forza of yours, signorina,'’ 


320 The Benefit of the Dotibt, 

concluded he, was actually an impossibility. 
And it is my belief that you are no less than a 
sorceress — an incantatrice, or the diavolessa in 
person.'’ 

‘‘ Which interpretation of your last noun, 
maestro mio, am I to accept ? ” returned Breta, 
laughing. 

'' Oh, you are here, Joslyn ! ” exclaimed Selma, 
appearing from under the loopings of the heavy 
draperies. Excuse me if I interrupt, but 
mamma wishes just one word with you. Hicks 
has called and is in much distress.” 

fe, but they are a very charming family ! ” 
remarked the maestro to Breta, after de Grey 
and his sister had left. “I wish — have been 
wishing to say something to yon, figlia mia. I 
have been trembling, yes, actually trembling 
these three years past, fearing you might be 
finally induced to throw yourself away on that 
scioccone, Dunraven.” Breta started perceptibly, 
the maestro had spoken in his most energetic 
Italian. But you — you must accept my warm- 
est congratulations on the choice you have 
made,” continued he, more mildly. “ The Sig- 
nor de Grey is generoso, naturale, cortese, be- 
nigno — one of the very few genuine men I 


The Day of the Matinee, 321 

ever met. Your future, signorina, lies bright 
before you.” 

Breta made no . reply, but glanced up at the 
professore with a gravely appreciative look. 

What think you, cara^' he added, changing 
his tone, “ the Signora de Grey insisted on my 
accepting five thousand of the dollars of this 
country, when three thousand are all for which 
I had stipulated ; and when — alia buon ara^ I 
should have come all the same without a danaro, 
so much I wished to see and hear my madami- 
gella. And then, to add insult to injury ” — 
here the professore, speaking in a tone of delicate 
irony, flashed from the fire of his eyes a subtle 
glance of malicious humor — to add insult to in- 
jury,” he repeated with another lightning gleam, 
the maestro Whyte fairly compelled me to take 
the same amount, mating it exactly, to pay for, 
— so he said — his niece’s lessons this summer.” 
And the professore concluded with a short, dry 
laugh. 

I do not feel that any money can repay you 
for what you have taught me, maestro miol' 
said Breta, with grave warmth ; “ I have learned 
much this summer.” 

The maestro gave Breta a questioning glance 


32 2 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

from the fire of his eyes, and smiling, he offered 
her his arm and they joined de Grey, who was 
just seeking them ; they passing on their way 
Bowers and his sister, sitting at a window, chatting 
together merrily. 

I tell you it will take me months to get 
over her voice. She is a marvel of a prima 
donna tamed down into quiet life,'’ insisted 
Tom Bowers. 

‘‘ Tant 7 nieux^' was the sententious reply. 

‘‘ I question whether it is better to hide such 
a gift as hers under the bushel of private life,” 
Tom declared. 

“ Tom, you should have come back from Paris 
when I wrote for you. Breta was spending the 
Christmas holidays with me — papa and mamma 
adoring her. What I wished was — ” 

Oh, gammon. Sis., she never would have 
looked at me — that de Grey chap was just made 
for her. He is worth ten of me — ten times as 
clever — ten times as — ” 

“ Tom, we girls go into heroics over other 
girls. I did not know your sublime sex did over 
each other. But, Tom, let me tell you, you are 
not to be sneezed at. If you had only come — 
if Breta had seen you before de Grey — 


The Day of the Matinee, 323 

Please disabuse yourself, Sis., of the Breta 
Garnet theory. Persons, like water, must find 
their level to be happy in this world. And Miss 
Breta Garnet is so far above my level that I 
should stand only with clasped hands in an at- 
titude of adoration all my life. That you see 
would be excessively inconvenient. Now, that 
little gem of a Sadie Burrill is quite on my level. 
I can comprehend and love the dear little thing 
without feeling in the least like falling down on 
my knees and worshipping her. De Grey, who 
lives in the seventh heaven already, is just sub- 
lime enough and all that, for one so transcend- 
ently gifted and lovely as Breta Garnet. They 
will go on soaring through life, while I, who 
have not fledged my wing-feathers, should I 
attempt to soar, would go up like a rocket and 
come down like a stick. He, you see, being on 
her level — ” 

Your head is certainly getting level, Tom, 
for that is the first sensible speech I ever heard 
you make.” 

“ Thank you. Sis. ; I hope Sadie has imbibed 
from you your faculty for combing a fellow s 
hair ; it is so vivifying. I say. Sis., that Prince 
Conynghame of yours is the deadest-in-love of 
any man I ever saw, except de Grey.” 


324 The Benefit of the Doubt 

“ And you — you are not, you know, Tom.” 

“ Frank, I can tell you two who are not ; and 
those two are the count and that Miss Morton, 
— with her cool, Greek face — who thinks a 
deuced sight more of de Grey than she does of 
her count.” 

“ Can you see that, Tom ? I have known it 
from the first time she ever saw him. But 
knowing she has no chance there, she is un- 
willing to let slip the chance of being presented 
as a countess to all the courts of Europe,^ — 
there, that was a secret ! I have not told it to 
Breta, even.” 

‘‘ All safe, Frank. But do look at our mamma 
making so much of your friend Breta, and 
beaming so radiantly on de Grey. Our mamma 
is a very handsome and well-conducted middle- 
aged lady, and I for one am tremendously 
proud of her.” 

“ She is a true Bowers of the energetic 
school,” acquiesced Frank. ‘‘ But she is a modi- 
fied Bowers, with the slang rubbed out of her 
by the habit of years of good society. There, 
Tom, they have commenced on ghosts. I shall 
not sleep a wink to-night ; but do let us go over 
and hear what Mr. Whyte is saying.” 


The Day of the Matinee. 325 

My dear madame,” he was saying to Mrs. 
de Grey, “ if you had been buried for years, 
with no other companionship frequently for days 
at a time than ghosts, you would not have known 
whether you knew or not. I was beginning to 
consider them the reality of life ; and that once 
in the arena as public lecturer my subject would 
be the ‘ Coming Ghost ’ : — Will the coming 
ghost smoke tobacco? Will the coming ghost 
eat horse-radish ? Shave notes,” — and Mr. 
Whyte gave one of his twisted smiles. “ Will 
not the coming ghost be the chief actor on this 
mundane sphere ? But since the ghosts have 
quitted this mansion I begin to doubt whether 
I ever heard the unaccountable sounds that — ” 

“ There is no doubt in my mind on the sub- 
ject,” interrupted Black, with a ponderous laugh. 

The unaccountable sounds were in the room 
with me — were invisible, and were a reality.” 

They might have proceeded from cats. 
Cats have great ventriloquial powers,” suggest- 
ed Bowers. 

“ Cats sing most astonishingly,” rejoined 
Black, “ but cats cannot sing ‘ Una voce poco fa' 
like a highly cultured prima donna ; eh. Signor 
Trapassi ? ” 


326 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

“ Unless it were the shade of the great CaU 
alini,” said Bowers, the maestro only smiling sig- 
nificantly for all reply. 

“ Tom, I owe you one for your Cat-alini.” 

“ Frank, you have owed me one since day 
before yesterday — so now you owe me two.’’ 

I should think, Tom, you would consider it 
infor-a-dig to dun. But I can only say, su-um 
cuique'd returned Frank. 

“There, Tom, said Mr. Bowers, laugh- 
ing, “ you are paid with interest. Now let us 
solve the ghost problem. I side, so far, with Mr. 
Black.” 

Young Fred Thorne suggested boys. He 
knew from late experience what boys could 
achieve in the way of curious noises ; and in this 
his brother Carl joined him. 

The boy theory was discussed, and illustrated 
by numerous anecdotes, until Black admitted 
that all the noises he heard that memorable 
morning might have been made by boys, espe- 
cially the Callithumpian concert. “ But no boy, 
or cat, could have sung the ‘ Una vocef' in- 
sisted he, “ or that divine gem from Himmel’s 
Ossiafiy except, perchance, a boy from the Cis- 
tine Chapel,” he added. 


The Day of the Matinee. 


327 


There never was a boy who would not 
have ended on the key-note/’ observed Mr. 
Whyte, with another of his twisted smiles. 
‘‘ Even cats always end on the tonic. But I find 
myself going back to my old disbelief in every 
thing supernatural. Some learned metaphysi- 
cians declare the whole universe to be but an 
idea. Ghosts then can be but the shadow of an 
idea.” 

“ Let who may ridicule these things,” re- 
marked Mrs. Bowers, “ we have too many well 
authenticated instances of unaccountable sights 
and sounds, of warnings and presentiments to 
discredit entirely what is called the super- 
natural.” 

“ Brother Joslyn’s theory, Mrs. Bowers,” said 
Miss Selma, that the unseen world and the 
palpable world are so closely connected, that 
what we deem the supernatural, is only a rare- 
fied type of the natural world, is, I find, getting 
to be, with some modifications, mine also.” 

“ A certain profound French ethicist asserts 
that human perfection — the perfect man — will 
be the product only of the coalescing of the two 
worlds — the physical and spiritual,” observed 
de Grey. 


328 


The Benefit of the Doubt 


'' All the ghosts of the past and present to be 
always around us,” exclaimed Frank, with a great 
shudder, “to occupy our houses with us — with- 
out paying any rent ! For my part I had rather 
be a little less perfect and have them keep at 
a respectful distance.” 

“ That is one interpretation of the French- 
mans knotty point, Miss Bowers,” returned 
Conynghame, laughing. 

“ A knot too hard for Sir Isaac Newton to 
untie, as he declares in concluding his theory on 
optical illusions,” said de Grey. 

“ It was not too hard a knot for Socrates,” 
exclaimed Bowers, flourishing his right arm ora- 
torically ; “ he came out flat-footed, to say noth- 
ing of bare-footed on all that relates to — ” 

“ Say ghosts, Tom,” interrupted Frank. 

“ Socrates, being himself always warned of 
all hostile things by the voice of his dcemon or 
good spirit,” interposed Breta, with a laudable 
desire of helping Tom out, “taught the meaning 
and value of — ” 

“ Say ghosts, Breta. That includes it all,” 
said Frank. 

“These, alas! are degenerate times. Miss 
Frank,” asserted Mr. Black, rolling out a pon- 


The Day of the Matinee, 329 

derous laugh. '‘Times of scepticism and mat- 
ter of fact. The rosy-cross is broken; Euli- 
sinia and Delphi are buried in their own ashes ; 
the shades of Academie are silent ; the symbolic 
lore of Egypt is swathed within the endless 
wrappings of mummies ; even the witches of 
Salem have flown away on their own broom- 
sticks ; and still with all our demand for the 
real, we are all slyly fond of a supernatural rid- 
dle that will play hob with our natural hair.” 

" It is so easy to doubt,” returned Conyng- 
hame. 

" And so easy to swallow appearances in 
blind credulity ; the death in either case of 
faith — the belief of conviction,” added de 
Grey. “The faith that is the culmination of 
God’s power in man, — that nurse of prophets 
and cradle of martyrs that wrought such won- 
derful results in the old Bible times, teaching 
that the inner life can manifest itself through 
outward signs not only in revelation but in 
valuable scientific discoveries as well — is pos- 
sessed in these days by those only who are the 
leaders of the forlorn hopes of the world.” 

“ It is some forlorn hope I have always de- 
sired to help rescue from ruin,” said Breta, so 


330 The Benefit of the Doubt 

unaffectedly that the egotism of her speech was 
lost in its perfect simplicity. 

“ Whither thou goest I will go, Breta. Shall 
it be through the Dark Continent ? exclaimed 
Frank. 

Miss Garnet need not go to the Dark Con- 
tinent to become the arbiter of a forlorn hope, 
when she is so much needed in the Home 
Mission to help elevate the hearts of her friends 
to the true faith by the divine strains of her 
voice,” said Conynghame. 

‘‘ Col. Conynghame, hand what you have 
just said over to me, and consider it re-said,” 
uttered Frank, enthusiastically. 

Moi aussi ! ” exclaimed Tom, tragically. 

Pythagoras taught by precept and example 
that the working out one’s own particular gift 
is the highest meed we can bestow on humanity. 
Need we of this aesthetic age, who revere the 
antique, go farther back for authority ? ” re- 
marked de Grey, having laughed at Bowers’ 
melodramatic imitation of Frank. 

‘‘ And how much, how many of the world’s 
great problems have hinged on that Pythago- 
rean theorem, — that placed the sun in the cen- 
tre instead of its having to gallop around the 


The Day of the Matinee. 331 

earth, — which Copernicus revived and Galileo 
perfected, and to which Pythagoras, in his grat- 
itude at having discovered, sacrificed an hun- 
dred oxen ? '' observed Counsellor Black, ora- 
torically. 

'' One thing that hinged upon that same 
forty-seventh proposition of the first book of 
Euclid, was a lively bout I had with Old Prex ; 
and I barely got over that asses' bridge ! " 
And Bowers laughed as he concluded. 

‘'Are you quite sure you did get over it, 
Tom ? " asked Frank, her eyes brimming over, 
teasingly. 

“ Breakers ahead ! Look out. Sis., I owe 
you one now." 

“ You need not be particular about paying it, 
Tom. I am magnanimous and forgive my 
debtors," returned Frank. 

“ That is the way they keep it up at home," 
said Mr. Bowers, pere, who had been listening 
silently to all the preceding conversation. 
“ They give one no rest," added he, laughing. 

asinorum was a terrible bridge 
to get over, you see, Mr. Bowers," said Black, 
laughing in sympathy. “ But now that the 
world is safely this side of it, where the digging 


332 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


is so much easier, and so many buried truths 
are being unearthed, I think we might dig out 
a solution to the singing and noises I heard in 
this house four months ago — and I did hear 
them. You, Joslyn, who have studied so 
deeply into this sort of lore and can sustain 
your position by history, tradition, and science, 
should ferret this thing out.” 

All I have feared, Benjamin,” returned 
Selma, “ has been that, in ferreting it out, 
Josyln might lose sight of the affairs of our 
mundane — ” 

“ Never fear it. Cousin Selma,” interrupted 
Conynghame, with an energy so quiet and 
suave that he seemed more as though coin- 
ciding with, than interrupting, her. Be sure 
of this, Joslyn is not one to lose sight of any 
thing.” 

A comprehensive gleam of good-humored 
mirth shot from de Grey’s eyes as he re- 
plied : 

‘‘ Selma, you and Ralph speak of me on the 
nay and aye sides as though I were non est in- 
ventus!' 

‘‘ Less than a ghost,” returned Conynghame. 

''Now that you are back to the starting- 


The Day of the Matinee, 333 

point, ghosts, I do not see that we have solved 
any thing except that Tom’s ghosts are cats, 
Mr. Fred Thorne and his brother Carl’s ghosts 
are boys, Mr. Whyte ‘ mixed up so,’ on his, and 
Mr. Black sure of his,” asserted Frank, adding : 

And while mamma. Signor Trapassi, Messrs, 
de Grey and Conynghame are meandering in 
a fog on, the question, I, like Counsellor Black, 
am a firm believer in — ghosts.” 

Counsellor Black considers himself in good 
company,” said he, bowing to Frank and 
laughing urbanely. 

The maestro who had been a silent and at- 
tentive listener to all that had been said, man- 
ifesting by the keen glance of his eyes, or by a 
ready smile his appreciation of what, as the 
case might be, was profound or humorous, now 
observed in a tone of dry irony : 

“ Suppose, Dio sante ! — suppose we give the 
spiriti, the ghosts, the benefit of the doubt.” 


XXII. 


A BOLD STROKE. 



N the day after the matinee, Elmwood 


V-x was almost deserted of guests ; Breta, 
Mr. Whyte, and Pella only remaining. The 
count went to prepare, as in confidence he told 
Selma, for his marriage — Miss Morton expecting 
her trousseau from Paris. 

Frank had accompanied her mother and 
father home, but only for a day, having tragi- 
cally declared that she could not live away any 
longer than one day from Breta. 

In the afternoon of the very quiet day, Pella 
came into Breta’s room with her sweetest 
smile. # 

“What shall I wear, Breta, dear? I wish to 
look extra nice, as it is not often I get much of 
Mr. de Grey’s valuable time.” And Pella gave 
Breta a very arch look, adding : “ And for a 

drive, too.” 


334 


A Bold Stroke. 335 

'' A drive, Pella! ” repeated Breta, somewhat 
startled. 

And I must be ready in five minutes,” re- 
turned Pella, nodding her head significantly. 
“It would not answer to keep Mr. de Grey 
waiting, you know.” 

Much bewildered, Breta, arrested in her own 
preparations, which had been hurried, as she 
did not wish to lose a moment of the time ab- 
solutely alone with de Grey, — the time so pre- 
cious to her, — turned abruptly facing Pella with 
the quiet dignity so entirely her own : 

“ Did you say, Pella,” she demanded, “ that 
you are going for a drive now, — at once with 
Jos — Mr. de Grey ? ” 

“Just as soon as Fanchon can dress me, 
dear,” responded Pella, quite innocently ; “ and 
as we shall not be back before dusk (poor I 
have never been to the cave yet — did I say 
there is where we are going ?), why, I shall 
take warm wraps with me — these long drives 
make one so chilly. But here I stand talking 
instead of getting ready. I will run in a mo- 
ment for you to see if my bows are all right ; 
your taste is so perfect.” And she bounded off 
gayly. 


33^ The Benefit of the Doubt, 

Breta stood confused, almost stunned. Her 
first impulse was to seek Joslyn. Then calm- 
ing herself by an effort, the thought came to 
her that Selma must have concluded to go with 
them in the carriage ; and nothing doubting, she 
had just concluded her preparations as Pella re- 
turned. 

“We will go down together, Pella,” said she. 
“ How did Selma find time to go with us ? I 
thought she intended to oversee the arrange- 
ment of the ferneries herself.” 

“ Yes, dear, both she and Mrs. de Grey are 
engaged with the florist and his men,” replied 
Pella, surveying herself complacently in the 
mirror. 

Breta grew troubled again ; and walking 
thoughtfully over to the window, saw what con- 
firmed her doubts. 

“ Ah, Charlie has just driven up with the 
two-horse phaeton ! ” exclaimed Pella, who had 
tripped gracefully over to the window after 
Breta. “Really, the only arrangement for two 
persons I like is a phaeton. But au revoir, 
love ” ; and Pella kissing Breta, skimmed airily 
to the door of the room, looking back to 
say : 


A Bold Stroke, 337 

How shall you employ yourself while we 
are gone, Breta darling ? ” 

The we, grated on Breta harshly, but she 
answered with composure that she had letters 
to write. 

“Oh, I know well who will come in for one 
letter — if he has not already returned from 
Europe ! ” exclaimed Pella, kissing her hand 
lightly to Breta. 

De Grey was standing on the veranda await- 
ing Breta’s approach. Hearing Pella’s light 
step he looked up from the flowers he held in 
his hand, with his heart in his eyes ; but en- 
countering the steely gleam of Pella’s uncertain 
blue eyes, his expression instantly changed. 

“ Oh, Mr. de Grey, I am afraid you will have 
to be content with me for company this after- 
noon. Dear Breta sent me down to ask you to 
please excuse her and take me instead. I hope 
you will not be very much disappointed. ” 

“ Did Bre — did Miss Garnet give any reason 
for breaking her engagement with me. Miss 
Morton? ” asked de Grey with a directness that 
any one less amiable than Pella would have re- 
sented. 

“ Oh, Mr. de Grey, you are disappointed. 


338 The Be^iejit of the Doubt 

I told Breta you would be. But she would 
have it so — and I leave Elmwood so soon. 
I will go right up and call Breta down, Mr. de 
Grey ; she must keep her engagement with 
you,” and Pella spoke with such deprecating 
sweetness, that de Grey, who had turned from 
her with the intention apparently of going in 
search of Breta himself, suddenly turned toward 
her. 

'' Say no more. Miss Morton, I beg,” said he, 
as Bre — -as Miss Garnet wishes it,” and real- 
izing that he was quite rude to his sister’s guest, 
he offered her his arm with cold politeness and 
assisted her into the phaeton — Breta looking 
down on them from her window’s height above 
— and carelessly tossing away the beautiful flow- 
ers in his hand, and taking the reins from Char- 
lie, the groom, de Grey seated himself beside 
Pella and drove off. 

To make amends for his rudeness he drove 
where Pella wished ; but his manner was so 
cold and he so absent, that any one less good- 
tempered than she would have requested to be 
driven back in affront. But to her every thing 
was delightful. It was Mr. de Grey this and 
Mr. de Grey that, and just before they arrived 


A Bold Stroke. 


339 

back at Elmwood in the early twilight, she 
remarked, as by accident ; 

‘'I wonder if Breta has finished her letters. 
She said she had letters to write, but I think 
she meant letter. It has been a great secret, 
you know, Mr. de Grey — Breta s marriage, I 
mean — now so soon to take place.'’ 

‘‘ So soon ?” repeated de Grey, quite aroused 
from a reverie into which he had fallen. 

Within a week, you know, Mr. de Grey ; 
but if you do not know, pray do not let it tran- 
spire that I told you.” 

“ Indeed ! And who is to be the happy man ? ” 
asked de Grey, with cold, doubting irony. 

“Why, Mr. de Grey,” returned Pella, with 
innocent archness, “who could it be but the 
gentleman to whom Breta has been so long en- 
gaged — Mr. Dunraven, of course.” 

As de Grey made no reply, Pella, with a light 
laugh, said very sweetly : 

“ You look perfectly incredulous, Mr. de Grey. 
Now let me tell you that you know very little 
what is in young ladies’ minds. Breta, aware 
that Mr. Whyte and all her friends are not 
much in favor of Mr. Dunraven, has kept her 
own counsel. But you will see that I am right. 
Breta herself told me — ” 


340 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

“ It is all a mistake, Miss Morton, be assured 
of that,'’ returned de Grey, as with freezing 
politeness he assisted Pella from the phaeton. 

They found the family assembled at the din- 
ner-table, and Dunraven (who had apparently 
dropped down from the skies) assiduously at- 
tentive to Breta, who, pale and silent, neither 
accepted nor repelled his attentions. 

Breta did not vouchsafe de Grey one glance. 
Never once looking up from her plate, she ac- 
cepted what was offered her, but ate not a 
mouthful. 

A silence seemed to have fallen on all. Mrs. 
de Grey and Selma, observant of their guests, 
looked troubled, and Mr. Whyte, sorely per- 
plexed, glanced from one to another, arriving 
at no satisfactory solution to the mystery. 

Pella and Dunraven were the life of the table. 
It was as though some great calamity had be- 
fallen the household, and Pella, generously 
sacrificing all thoughts of self, was making un-» 
flagging efforts to keep up the spirits of the 
others. 

During the remainder of the evening de 
Grey could find no opportunity to have a word 
with Breta. She avoided him with studied care, 


A Bold Stroke. 


341 


permitting Dunraven to hover near her, al- 
though she had no words for him either. Still 
Dunraven, with his inimitable attitudes and fine 
flow of language, saw nothing, understood noth- 
ing. His coolness and tact bore him through. 
And while making himself entertaining to all, 
and especially interesting Mrs. de Grey with 
his varied information, he so contrived that all 
he said should be a personal and deferential at- 
tention to Breta. 

At breakfast the next morning and at lunch 
and during the day it was the same : Breta, 
pale and silent, appearing with the rest, but 
eating nothing, giving de Grey no opportunity 
for. a word, or a look, with her, and Dunraven 
.ever hovering near her. 

In the afternoon de Grey strolled through the 
grounds alone, and seated himself in one of the 
summer-houses. A light step approaching at- 
tracted his attention, and Pella appeared before 
him. 

Excuse me, Mr. de Grey,'’ said she, timidly, 
‘‘ but Breta wished me and no one but me to 
hand you this." 

Pella’s ‘‘ this," was a little sealed note, and it 
ran thus : 


342 The Benefit of the Doubts 

'' Do not seek an explanation. I felt it my 
duty to fulfil a promise made years ago, and 
in the face of my promise to you I became his 
wife. Forgive and forget the unhappy 

Breta Dunraven.’' 

Quite stunned, de Grey sought for calmness. 
He examined the note, turned it over, and read 
it again. It was unmistakably Breta’s hand- 
writing. He then re-read it, and having risen 
on Pella’s approach, he turned toward her, ask- 
ing in a stifled voice : 

‘‘ Do you know the contents of this note. 
Miss Morton ? ” 

'' Assuredly,” she replied. At Breta’s re- 
quest I was witness to the ceremony, — the 
only witness.” 

Steadying himself de Grey proceeded toward 
the house, Pella walking by his side, assuring 
him in the sweetest of her sweet tones that he 
had a warm and sympathizing friend in her. 
But de Grey made no response to her offers of 
sympathy, so absorbed, so confounded was he 
by the blow he had received, that he scarcely 
heard her. 

It was just then that a carriage drove up, con- 
taining Frank, Conynghame, and little Nelly 


A Bold Stroke. 


343 


Bowers, whom Frank was to re-place at Miss 
Rutherford’s. 

As she ascended the steps of the veranda 
with Conynghame, Frank took in the strange- 
ness of it all. Pella looking so fresh and bright, 
so innocently happy, that it was -quite refresh- 
ing to see her ; and de Grey so haggard and 
pale, that it was not refreshing to see him ; 
while Breta, the ghost of herself, was sitting 
on the veranda ; Dunraven in the most ex- 
quisite of his exquisite attitudes, leaning against 
the fluted column close beside her. 

Selma, who had been sitting beside Breta, 
came forward to greet Frank and her cousin 
Ralph, giving the kindliest welcome also to 
little Nelly. But she, with her brother, seemed 
much troubled, and she gave a commiserating 
look at her brother, who, after a few con- 
strained words to his cousin Ralph, and Frank, 
passed quite abruptly into the house and up 
the great staircase to the seclusion of his own 
room. 

Frank ran up to Breta, kissed her most af- 
fectionately, Breta’s sad, white face striking a 
chill into her heart, and then ran off into the 
house and up the broad staircase also, but not 


344 Benefit of the Do^tbt. 

in search of de Grey. It was Mr. Whyte she 
sought ; and confronting that little gentleman 
in his own den, surrounded by music and 
ruled paper, she exclaimed energetically : 

“ Mr. Whyte, can you tell me the meaning 
of this horrible state of affairs ? ’’ 

“ State of affairs, Miss Frank ! Have the 
ghosts really returned ? '' and Mr. Whyte 
looked up with abstracted interest from the 
figured bars he was noting. 

“ It is worse than ghosts, Mr. Whyte. Here 
I return after two days’ absence to find Pella 
Morton bossing the whole shebang. She has 
Joslyn de Grey on a string, and he looks like a 
worried tiger — haggard and gloomy. Has 
Breta thrown him ? She is paler than any of 
her ghosts, and Selma looks troubled enough 
with it all. And to cap the whole, there is 
that disgusting Dunraven — pardon me, I for- 
got he is your nephew,” and Frank stopped to 
take breath. 

“ No harm done, Miss Frank ; I have noticed 
all this with much distress of mind,” responded 
Mr. Whyte, in meek dejection. 

“ Can you give me no clue, Mr. Whyte, 
nothing to start from, for I shall pitch in and 
shall not rest until I ferret it all out?” 


A Bold Stroke. 


345 


I can only surmise/’ returned Mr. Whyte, 
with a sorely puzzled air, ‘‘ that all the un- 
pleasantness dates from an unaccountable drive 
Miss Morton took with de Grey yesterday af- 
ternoon.” 

‘‘ Thank you ; I am certain it is all Pella,” 
said Frank, and she flew down stairs, but 
found no one but Conynghame, and he was 
alone in the drawing-room, looking over the 
late periodicals. 

Ralph,” said she, mysteriously, “ something 
awful has transpired, and I am finding it out. 
There, I knew it ! ” she exclaimed, darting off 
before Conynghame had time to speak, leaving 
him to politely speculate on the cause of her 
flight. 

He looked from the window through which 
Frank had glanced when she declared she 
‘‘ knew it,” and seeing only Pella and Dunraven 
sauntering toward the central summer-house, 
he gave it up as a conundrum too deep for solu- 
tion ; and throwing aside his magazine, he went 
in search of his cousin Joslyn. 

Frank left the house from the back entrance, 
running like a deer, and, skirting around under 
cover of the foliage, arrived at the central sum- 


346 The Benefit of the Doubt. 

mer-house, where she saw Pella was going, and 
concealed herself in the thick shrubbery, just in 
time to hear the rumbling tones of Dunraven’s 
voice, and then Pella’s high falsetto. 

One never knows who may overhear you 
in the house,” said Pella ; but here one is safe 
from eavesdroppers. Breta is in her own room ; 
Mr. de Grey is in his sister’s room — I heard both 
of their voices distinctly, — and Mrs. de Grey is 
with them ; Frank is in the drawing-room with 
Colonel Conynghame — I saw them both as I left 
the house ; and Mr. Whyte is at his everlasting 
music. So you see I can say a few words to 
you unheard by any one.” 

Frank stifled a sneeze, having run herself into 
a perspiration. 

'‘Say on, Miss Morton, I am all ears.” 

“ Never was truer word spoken — the ears of 
a jackass! ” inaudibly muttered Frank. 

“ I only wish to say, Mr. Dunraven, that I 
give the whole thing up. Mr. de Grey is quite 
intractable, and for a gentleman of so much re- 
finement, is positively rude. As I promised you, 
I secured you a chance for you to see Breta 
alone, inducing her to believe that Mr. de Grey 
had invited me for that drive, and inducing him 


A Bold Stroke, 


347 


to believe that Breta had already married you. 
I quite perjured myself, and could be taken up 
for a forger,'’ and Pella laughed gaily, adding : 

for it seemed such a pity that one so hand- 
some, and with such prospects as Mr. de Grey, 
should throw himself away on such a nobody 
as Breta Garnet." 

What I have been trying all my life for — 
to secure the regards of Miss Garnet — the 
loveliest, the most gifted of her sex — in no 
sense a nobody, her family being among the 
oldest — " 

“ Now you know, Mr. Dunraven, I do not 
mean — " 

“ Excuse me. Miss Morton, but I am quite 
soured that all your diplomatic tact and skill 
have proved so unavailing. I have just re- 
ceived from Bre — Miss Garnet, such a spirited 
and galling negative to my oft-repeated ques- 
tion that — " 

‘‘ There ! I will positively hear no more ! " 
exclaimed Frank, springing lightly from her 
hiding-place. ‘‘ I divined it all, and now my 
worst suspicions are confirmed." And before 
the electrified pair fully realized what had elec- 
trified them, Frank had disappeared. Encoun- 


348 The Benefit of the Doubt 

tering Angelique, she asked where she should 
find Mr. de Grey. 

He has just started for Europe, mees,'' re- 
plied Angelique. 

‘'Where is Miss de Grey? Tell me quickly, 
Angelique. Good heavens ! Europe ! '' and 
Frank rushed to Selma’s room where Angelique 
had directed her, and burst in without stopping 
to knock, almost breathlessly exclaiming : 

“ Selma, send some one at once to recall 
your brother. It is all a wicked scheme of 
Pella’s ; I have found it all out.” 

“ I will ring for Bolton,” replied Selma, hastily, 
readily comprehending, and rising she pulled 
the bell-rope. 

But Frank, not waiting for the ceremonious 
Bolton, bolted off to the stables, speeding like 
an antelope in full chase, and giving hurried 
orders for the swiftest horse to be saddled, and 
for Charlie, one of the grooms, to ride like the 
wind to the station, and to tell Mr. de Grey 
that something very important had occurred, 
and that Miss Selma wished him to return at 
once. 

“ Now tell .me all about it, my dear PTank,” 
urged Selma, who had hurried toward the 


A Bold Stroke. 


349 


stables after Frank. ‘‘ You are quicker- witted 
than I, and quite right, I should not have waited 
for Bolton. Poor Joslyn ! ” 

Oh, I hope it may not be too late ! ” ex- 
claimed Frank. 

'' But you do not tell me why you are so 
flushed and excited, nor what Pella Morton has 
done, nor why you wish Joslyn recalled,” said 
Selma, putting her arm around Frank s waist 
and walking on with her toward the house. 

Frank found Selma more shocked than sur- 
prised at the discovery she had made. 

‘‘ Let us go at once to poor Breta,” urged 
Selma, with a sweet sympathy beaming in her 
mild eyes. ‘‘ I have been even more troubled 
for her than for Joslyn.” 

During all this time,” said Selma, after 
Frank, in Breta’s room, had narrated Pella’s in- 
terview with Dunraven the second time for 
Breta’s benefit, Joslyn has said nothing to 
me — not a word — until half an hour or so ago. 
He then showed me a note he had just re- 
ceived from Breta — or, at least, in Breta’s hand- 
writing, — announcing her marriage with Dun- 
raven, and signed ‘ Breta Dunraven ’ ; and 
simply saying, ‘ I am going to Europe, Selma, 


35o The Benefit of the Doubt. 

to try and recover from the shock of this/ he 
kissed me and was gone/' 

Good heavens ! " exclaimed Frank. ‘‘ Did * 
Pella go as far as that} " 

‘‘ How could — how could Jcslyn have believed 
it possible for me to — " cried Breta, a hot flush 
suflusing her blanched face. 

- H ow could — how coidd Breta have believed 
it possible for him to — " cried Frank, catching 
Breta in her arms and kissing her. Why did 
you credit Pella when she came to you with 
that cock-and-bull story about Joslyn s asking 
her to go with him? It 's as broad as it is long. 
But people in love are such fools. Here is Jos- 
lyn steaming off to Europe, and here are you 
starving yourself to death — and all for nothing," 
and Frank threw herself into a chair, fanning 
herself violently with the black Spanish fan at 
her chatelaine. 

‘‘ And you, Frank, who have been so fortu- 
nate, it seems, as to have escaped the conta- 
gion ? " asked Selma, laughing in all her trouble. 

‘‘ Oh, I ? I 'm not sentimental and all that," 
returned Frank, airily. I am fond of Ralph, 
of course — awfully fond of him. But when he 
gets spooney, I laugh him out of it, and he 


A Bold Stroke. 


35i 


politely (Ralph could not be any thing but polite) 
surrenders at discretion. But what gets me,’’ 
continued she, seriously, is why Joslyn, who 
has such insight into character, and why you, 
Breta, who, although you always judge people 
from your own sublime stand-point, still know 
Pella so well, did not both of you divine 
her little game. I should have twigged at 
once.” 

I believe you would, Frank,” and Breta 
laughed at Frank’s words and manner because 
she could not help it. ‘‘ But it was so sudden,” 
extenuated Breta, so unexpected, so naturally 
done, and so — ” 

And so — catty,” interrupted Frank. Pella 
certainly has a genius for lying, if for nothing 
else.” 

“ In this — this misunderstanding I have been 
more to blame than Joslyn, infinitely more,” ac- 
knowledged Breta, remorsefully. '' I see it all 
now, just what a — fool I was. I should have 
gone to him at once, as I first thought. And 
then I held out so — but I will not dwell on 
what Pella has done ; it makes every drop of 
blood in me boil,” 

I love to boil, Breta,” exclaimed Frank, with 


352 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

energy. Boiling in a righteous cause is per- 
fectly invigorating.'’ 

A knock came at the door. It was Bolton 
who had come to say that Charlie had returned 
from the station and found the train had just 
started. 

'' And Joslyn said he would have time only 
to get to New York and reach the steamer be- 
fore the hour of sailing,” said Selma. 

Send a telegram at once to the steamship 
office, nevertheless, Selma,” urged Breta ; the 
steamer may have been delayed.” 

Frank was with the much-neglected Conyng- 
hame, explaining to him, and Breta was with 
her uncle, when Charlie returned again from the 
station to say that the return telegram stated 
that the steamer had sailed. 

The dinner-oron^ sounded, but never was so 
daintily cooked dinner more slighted : de Grey 
on his way to Europe, Pella Morton on her way 
to Saratoga — her aunt had sent for her, she 
sweetly told Selma and Mrs. de Grey when she 
bade them good-by. And Dunraven, having 
aroused the warm sympathies of both Mrs. de 
Grey and Selma in his behalf, on the score of 
his undying love for Breta, a love, as he averred. 


A Bold Stroke. 


353 


of nineteen years’ growth, as old as Breta her- 
self, also bade farewell, and went no one knew 
whither. 

Breta wrote a letter to de Grey that evening, 
that no one saw. It lay, white and silent, 
closely packed with its numerous fellows — so 
many individual identities, that were messen- 
gers of joy to some, of grief to others ; that 
were wave-tossed and wind-tossed ; that had 
wellnigh found a watery grave, — and steaming 
at last safely into harbor, each mute intelligence 
found its final destination. 


XXIII. 


THE HALF IS GREATER THAN THE WHOLE. 

LL who had been staying at Elmwood, 



l\ with the exception of Pella and the 
count, were in New York, awaiting the arrival 
of the steamer containing de Grey, who had 
started for home three days after arriving in 
Liverpool. On the same day, in that city also, 
he had received Breta’s letter. He had previ- 
ously cabled his arrival to his mother and sister, 
and had received cable telegrams in return in- 
dividually, as well as collectively, from all most 
nearly interested in him. 

As Frank passed into the elegantly ap- 
pointed drawing-room of her father s princely 
up-town residence, Conynghame turned, at her 
approach, from the contemplation of the master- 
work of art by Meissonier to the master- work 
of nature, his fine, powerful face lighting up 
with the admiration he felt for the beautiful 


354 


The Half is Greater tha^i the Whole, 355 

vision before him, that the painting had failed 
to call forth. And the beautiful vision, as her 
splendid glance rested in his, fully appreciated 
the admiration points she had evoked in his 
eyes. 

Frances,’' said he, after the greetings were 
over, I have an extra carriage at the door ex- 
clusively for Joslyn and Breta, that they can — ” 
“ Have a chance to fight it out by them- 
selves. How very thoughtful of you, Ralph,” 
interrupted Frank. “ You put yoursell in his 
place.” 

Precisely so,” returned Conynghame, with a 
laugh. 

The steamer is detained off Sandy Hook 
longer than usual, is it not ? ” asked Frank, 
taking off her gloves to select some buds from 
a vase of choice flowers, which, arranging into 
• an exquisite button-hole bouquet, she coyly 
placed on the breast of Conynghame’s coat. 

The fog was lifting, the last despatch 
stated, and the steamer is now coming up the 
harbor,” replied Conynghame, looking down 
through the flossy threads of her rich, dark 
hair on the deft, little, brown, tapering fingers at 
their work. 


356 The Ben^t of the Doubt. 

“ And then poor Breta will see Joslyn,” said 
Frank, looking up at Conynghame, and then 
with a sweep of her long, jet-black lashes shut- 
ting him out again as she softly patted down 
the flowers, having finished arranging them. 
“ Breta looks like something glorified. She is 
the loveliest being I ever saw at any time, but 
this morning she absolutely takes your breath 
away to behold her.” 

“Not a doubt of it,” assented Conynghame, 
looking straight into Frank’s eyes. 

“ Oh, if you turn every thing that way I ’ll — ” 

“ Pray don’t, I entreat ! ” exclaimed Conyng- 
hame, laughing at the recollection of the many 
spicy retaliations to which she had treated 
him. 

“ It is quite time we started,” said Selma, 
coming into the room in her becoming carriage 
dress. “ Benjamin has just arrived, and has aru 
extra carriage for Joslyn and Breta. We must 
manage that she does not suspect — ” 

“ Are all ready ? ” exclaimed Tom Bowers, 
hastily entering the room. “ Another despatch 
just received, and we ’ll be in time to meet the 
steamer at her dock if we start at once. 
Where ’s Miss Breta ? The carriages are all at 


The Half is Greater than the Whole. 367 

the door, with an additional one I ordered 
for — 

For Mr. de Grey's valet, Tom. Just the 
thing. Judson can now be driven from the 
steamer in state." 

Are you out of your head, Frank ? De 
Grey’s valet will ride with the coachman of 
course," said Tom. 

Not so, Tom. Don’t you see? Ralph has 
ordered an extra carriage — now at the door — 
for Breta ; Selma, or rather Mr. Black, another 
— now at the door — for Joslyn ; and you a third 
— now at the door — for Joslyn’s valet. Don’t 
you see, a sum in the rule of three? When 
shall the procession start ? ’’ 

“ Frank, you are a humbug. But we waste 
time ; shall I ring to hurry up the rest? Ah, 
here they come," and Tom grotesquely checked 
off the whole party with his fingers. 

Breta had just received a private telegram 
from de Grey, and the joy of it shone in her 
eyes and in her lovely face, surrounding her as 
with a halo. 

‘‘ Breta, you twinkle like a star," said Frank. 

“ Come, let us be off," and Tom offered his 
arm to Sadie. 


358 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


“ Mr. Whyte, take good care of Breta,’' said 
Frank, laughing, as she followed Tom and 
Sadie, on Conynghame’s arm. “ She looks like 
a flame, fairly incandescent ; like something 
not of this earth.’' 

I say. Sis., where did you find that big 
word ? ” asked Tom, looking around at Frank, 
with Sadie on his arm. 

How Breta and de Grey made their peace 
never transpired. All that was heard was as de 
Grey was assisting Breta from the carriage, in 
front of the Bowers’ mansion. 

“ Joslyn,” she- asked, how soon do you sail 
for Europe again ? ” 

Whenever you are ready to go with me,” 
was the reply. 

And all that was seen of the peace-making 
was what appeared in their countenances, radi- 
ant with the fulness of their content. 

The carriages reduced in number to four, 
all stopped at the Bowers’, where, by special 
invitation, the fatted calf, in honor of de Grey’s 
return, was to be eaten. And just as the rather 
lively ceremony of dinner was over, a farewell 
call was received from Count Gueret, who in- 
formed his friends that he was to sail on the 


The Half is Greater than the Whole, 359 

morrow with Miss Morton and her aunt, to join 
her brother in Paris, and that the wedding was 
to take place in his own chateau, then being 
magnificently fitted up — but with whose money 
he did not specify. 

Weeks of much gaiety followed, all remain- 
ing in New York at the de Grey’s and Bowers’ 
— their residences being but a few blocks apart. 
Elmwood being left in the care of Mrs. Judith, 
who had proved so efficient and trustworthy, 
with her tablets hanging at her side on which 
to write her orders. 

There were operas to be heard, pictures to be 
seen, and meantime great preparations were 
going on for a great event : the four mar- 
riages. 

Invitations to all the distinguished doings in 
fashionable life poured in upon them. Breta, 
Frank, and Sadie were admired as new stars in 
the firmament of fashion ; and those who were 
fortunate enough to hear Breta sing talked of 
nothing but her voice, her method, and her 
marvellous beauty. 

Little Mr. Whyte, with his wealth, became a 
mark for designing mammas. Never were such 
strains as those produced by his Stradivarius ; 


360 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

and with mild astonishment he accepted their 
adulations in most oblivious innocence. 

One day at dinner (they were all dining with 
Mrs. de Grey that day) an imposing letter illu- 
minated by a coronet was handed to Selma. 

“ Monsieur, the Count, and Madame, the 
Countess Gueret’s wedding cards,” said she, 
handing them to her mother. 

“ / never should have married a man as old 
again as myself if /had been Pella ! ” exclaimed 
Frank, with a shiver. ‘'Just think once, the 
count is forty and Pella twenty. When she is 
forty he will be eighty, and when she is eighty 
he will be one hundred and sixty! /could not 
stand a husband one hundred and sixty years 
old.” And Frank shivered again. 

“ Miss Frances has evidently been studying 
the lightning calculator,” observed de Grey, 
turning to Conynghame, who was shaking with 
laughter. 

“ Frank learned the rule of Hesiod s staff 
with Professor Broadhead, and he insisted so 
savagely that ‘ the half is greater than the 
whole,* ''said Breta, with a quizzically loving look 
at Frank, “ that she gave him a Roland for his 
Oliver.” 


The Half is Greater than the Whole. 361 

“We are all athirst for Information, Miss 
Breta,” said Black. 

“ Come, Sis., I can see by Miss Breta’s face 
it is too good to be lost,” insisted Tom ; “ we 
are dying for the Roland.” 

“ You may give it, Breta,” consented Frank. 

“ It was in the prosody lesson,” began Breta ; 
“ I, also was in the class. The professor was 
unwarrantably rude in criticising a scanning ex- 
ercise of Frank’s, averring, with a sneer, that in 
attempting the iambic of the Homeric hex- 
ameter, she had introduced dactyls enough to 
drive old Melesigenes mad. And then he 
quoted Hesiod’s celebrated staff from his ' Works 
and Daysl and Frank said it was absurd to say 
the half is greater than the whole. Where- 
upon the professor started on the war-path 
in earnest, declaring that either Miss Bowers or 
he should quit the school. Then it was that for 
his ancient classics Frank gave him a leaf from 
what she calls the modern classics.” 

“ The pit and gallery shriek for the leaf from 
the modern classics,” said Tom. 

“ Oh, it was over a year ago, when I was young 
and foolish,” returned Frank, laughing. “ When 
he said that either he or I must quit the school. 


362 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


I told him that as he had declared some one 
must go, and as he was on his ear he had better 
walk off on his ear with Hesiod’s staff to lean 
on.” 

‘‘ Why, Frank ! ” exclaimed her mother. 

“ Shocking, was it not, mamma ? ” said Frank. 

‘‘ And the result ?” asked Conynghame, nearly 
convulsed. 

'' The result was,” interposed Sadie, blushing 
to her square, delicate forehead, “ the whole 
class screamed with laughter, and the professor 
fairly danced with anger. His tarantula over, 
he appealed to Miss Rutherford.” 

Breta, meantime, had gotten hold of me,” 
added Frank, “ and as she is the only one who 
has ever put a head on — who has ever caused 
me to listen to reason, I agreed to tell Miss 
Rutherford I would retract.” 

“ Did you retract. Sis. ? ” asked Tom, laugh- 
ing. 

I told the professor I was convinced the 
half is far greater than the whole, being certain 
he meant only one-half of what he had said so 
wholesale. The professor laughed, and peace 
reigned.” 

'Tt would have been as well it some of our 


The Half is Greater than the Whole. 363 

modern poets, with Hesiod, could have discov 
ered that the half is greater than the whole,’' 
observed de Grey. 

‘‘ And some of our windy lawyers and states- 
men,” added Black. 

It would hardly answer in rationing an 
army ; the boys might object and demand the 
whole,” said Ralph. 


XXIV. 


EIGHT MADE FOUR, 



HE days, meantime, flew by, and so many 


JL and such mysterious and varied pre- 
parations were going on all around him, that 
Tom came to his sister one morning in great 
perplexity. 

Will you enlighten me. Sis., as to when 
this four-cornered affair is to come off? I being 
one of the corner pillars would like to know in 
time to buy my white kids. I ask Sadie, but 
the little thing shyly refers me to you. I ask 
Miss Selma, and she smiles beamingly and 
knowingly and says nothing.'' 

She thinks, of course, you are making be- 
lieve, Tom Bowers like." 

But when a fellow does n't know. Sis., and 
is of an enquiring mind ? " 

And you pretend to say you do not know 
when ? " 


364 


Eight Made Four. 


365 


“ I pretend to nothing, Sis. All I know is 
that the agony is to be put through in a lump, 
which will make it easier for us all — I having to 
bear but one-eighth, until that little rose-bud 
Sadie and I are one. That ’s the advantage of 
co-operation. I ’ve figured it down to a fine 
point you see, Sis. ; now tell me when.” 

“Just two weeks from to-day, you absurd 
Tom.” 

“ Oh ! ” gasped Tom. “ Thank you. Sis. — 
don’t I look pale ? ” 

“You never looked less pale in your life, 
Tom. I suppose you are ignorant also, that 
the affair is to come off at Elmwood.” 

“ Oh, that I know ; and of all the wonderful 
preparations that are going on at Elmwood. 
And I know also that you and all our ladies are 
closeted for hours at a time with Madame Flam- 
beau and her lesser torches in some mys- 
terious Blue-Beard chamber up-stairs, so that I 
can scarcely get a squint at Sadie of late.” 

“ Poor boy ! Did you know, too, the time we 
have had about bride’s-maids ? I thought we 
should have to advertise for them. But so many 
stylish cousins — like Robin Hood’s men — start- 
ed up, that the next trouble was to make choice 


366 


The Benefit of the Doubt. 


from among them all. A whole legion of lov- 
ing and aristocratic cousins, since Breta is 
known as Mr. Whyte’s heiress, and de Grey’s 
fiancee, have suddenly discovered that she is the 
most wonderful being in existence. And she 
is all of that without them to discover it.” 

'' Agreed. But never mind the aristocratic 
cousins. Sis.; look here. Happy thought! ” and 
Tom took from his pocket a letter, and on the 
back of it drew the following diagram. 


Breta, 



“ Weddings made easy. We must all stand 
thus,” continued Tom, as he wrote in the names, 
and the lines can be filled out with your bride’s- 
maids and things. It is complete — the square 
described on the hypothenuse equalling the sum 


Eight Made Four. 367 

of the squares on the base and perpendicular, 
you see. Solving the forty-seventh proposition.'’ 

'' Go along with your fifteen puzzle. Why, 
Tom, that ’s the diagram of that bridge you 
spread yourself so on that evening at Elm- 
wood, and Mr. Black said was so hard to get 
over.” 

‘‘The very same. Sis. I shall submit my 
diagram to him. Black being one of New 
York’s first lawyers, will see the value of it — 
will advise me to get it patented for the benefit 
of bashful young men. I am going now for 
those white kids. Au revoiri* 

“ Hold, Tom. Let me tell you. I am now 
quite certain you never fairly got over that 
bridge, but are on this side of it still,” 

“ Lend me your fan. Sis. I feel quite faint. 
Poor Conynghame ! That last shot has done 
for me,” and Tom, in his drollest way, collapsed 
into an arm-chair, fanning himself with his 
hand. 

“Tom,” exclaimed Frank, laughing, “as suc- 
cessor to the immortal Burton, you would win 
endless laurels.” 

“ There are two of us. Sis., thou and I,” 
groaned Tom from the depths of the arm-chair. 


368 


The Benefit of the Doubt, 


Somehow an acre of winter garden of rarest 
flowers, adjoining the house, had sprung up at 
Elmwood, resplendent ^vith Chinese lanterns 
and every device art could suggest to make it 
attractive. And the great house was filled to 
overflowing with wedding guests for a week be- 
fore the auspicious day. 

Mrs. Conynghame, Ralph’s mother, with his 
sister and her husband, had come from a pro- 
longed sojourn abroad to be present at the cere- 
mony — or ceremonies. 

Madama the Contessa Romano came all 
the way from Milan to witness the marriage of 
her darling Breta, whom she had not seen for 
over three years. 

The maestro, Signor Trapassi (returned from 
his United States tour), hurried the latter part 
of his sight-seeing in order to be at Elmwood 
in time. 

The young Thornes were there, with their 
father and mother, as also were all the numer- 
ous aristocratic cousins and aunts. 

The Misses Rutherford and the dignitary 
and elite of Lea, including the Gen. Leightons, 
the Judge Waltons, and Squire Atwood, were 
present at the ceremony. And lastly, standing 


Eight Made Four. • 369 

with more imposing grace than ever, several 
inches above the tallest present, Noel Dunra- 
ven was there, taking captive all the disengaged 
hearts of the bride s-maids and the aristocratic 
cousins by his handsome face and magnificent 
attitudes. 

He had sent to Breta, with a penitential 
letter craving permission to be present, a 
penitential bird ingeniously and skilfully exe- 
cuted in mosaic, entirely of rare and costly 
gems, and bearing in its beak a full-sized lily. 
The artist had so successfully fashioned the lily 
that, as though just freshly plucked, the morn- 
ing dew was still on its delicate petals. It was 
a significant and suggestive offering, and shone 
conspicuous among the profusion of exquisite 
and expensive bridal gifts. 


The house was deserted of all but its young 
master and mistress and the servants. Frank 
and Conynghame had just started for Southern 
Italy ; Sadie and Tom for a winter’s peep at 
Niagara, after which they were going to 
Havre to meet Sadie’s father, who, having been 
present at the wedding of his daughter, ex- 


370 The Benefit of the Doubt, 

pected to return in the first steamer. Selma 
and Black had left for Havana, and Mr. Whyte 
had but just started with Signor Trapassi and 
the Contessa Romano for Milan. The carriage 
was at the door that was to convey Breta and 
de Grey to New York, whence they ex- 
pected shortly to sail for a visit, first to Paris, 
and then to the other scenes of Breta s early 
days, joining Mr. Whyte at Milan. 

Breta had greatly feared the embarrassment 
of her new position when coming face to face 
with it. But de Grey had made it so easy for 
her by his manner, so tactful and considerate, 
so full of almost tender pity, that she stood be- 
side him in her pretty gown for travelling, with 
her furred wraps on her arm, the matron of 
but two short hours, listening to what he was 
saying, with her eyes full of a sweet content, and 
as calm, outwardly at least, as was her usual 
wont. 

I have learned to think with you, Breta, 
darling,'’ he continued, as, having handed her 
into the carriage, the door was shut upon them 
and they drove off. I have come to the con- 
clusion that going in search of the intangible 
with so much in the tangible to live for, would 


Eight Made Four. 


371 


be a lack of due regard for the tangible/' And 
he looked down into the eyes of the living tan- 
gible before him with a look so reverently full 
of the regard of which he spoke, that the world 
seemed to melt away from before her vision, 
and in a voice of utter peace all she said was : 

‘‘Joslyn, you and I have only just begun to 
live." 


Elmwood is still bountifully kept up, and each 
summer sees the reunion there of the eight 
who were made four. Breta and de Grey, with 
Mr. Whyte (looking more like a boy that had 
forgotten to grow old thkn ever), and with 
Frank and Conynghame (Frank still declaring 
she could not live away from Breta) make it 
their home. And the strangest thing of all 
is, that the four — the six when Sadie and Tom 
are there, the eight when Selma and Black are 
there — have never once quarrelled. And to this 
day the faintest supernatural sound has never 
since been heard ; and they do not give the 
ghosts even the benefit of the doubt. 


THE END. 



